A major water supply project for Hampshire has taken an important step forward in the national planning process.
Southern Water says the Planning Inspectorate has accepted its Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project for examination as part of the Development Consent Order process.
The project is intended to create a new source of water for Hampshire while reducing the amount taken from the county’s chalk streams, including the River Test and River Itchen.
Southern Water says the scheme forms part of its long-term plans to change the way it treats, sources and supplies water, amid pressure from population growth, climate change and environmental limits on river abstraction.
The project would use advanced treatment techniques to turn treated wastewater into purified recycled water. This would then be transferred to Havant Thicket Reservoir before being moved through Hampshire to Otterbourne Water Supply Works, where it would be treated to drinking water standards.
Southern Water says the River Test, River Itchen and the aquifers that feed them supply water to more than 800,000 people across Hampshire. The company says the amount of water that can be taken from those sources has been significantly reduced to protect rare chalk stream habitats.
Ben Ring, Managing Director for Capital Projects, said:
“This is an important step forward for the Project, which will play a vital role in securing water for our customers and protecting the environment.
“While this is not the final decision, it reflects the significant amount of work by our team, our suppliers, stakeholders and regulators that has gone into developing a robust and deliverable proposal.”
Southern Water says it currently faces a shortfall of 166 million litres of water a day in Hampshire during a drought, with that figure expected to rise to 200 million litres a day in the future.
The company says new sources of supply will be needed alongside continued reductions in leakage and improvements in water efficiency.
The project is part of Southern Water’s wider long-term water resilience plans, which also include new reservoirs and pipelines.
The Development Consent Order process is used for nationally significant infrastructure projects. Acceptance for examination does not mean the project has been approved, but it allows the application to move into the next stage of consideration.