Environment secretary visits 'needed' reservoir

With construction of a new reservoir under way, the environment secretary has visited to see its progress.

Plans to partly fill the future Havant Thicket Reservoir with recycled waste water have proved controversial with campaigners.

But Steve Reed, the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, says "we desperately need" projects like this.

The reservoir is a partnership between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water, which is currently carrying out a consultation.

The water firm and environment secretary have both said they will listen to concerns - but also emphasised water demand was rising.

Mr Reed explained: "By the middle of the 2030s demand for drinking water will outstrip supply and we'd be even looking at rationing, so we desperately need projects like this to get built.

"Government is bringing new legislation forward this week, a planning and infrastructure build that will look at how we can speed up regulations, so that we can get reservoirs that we need built much more quickly."

"...but within that there needs to be time for people to have their say as well, so they can influence the final decision," he added.

It is estimated Havant Thicket Reservoir will take nine years to build and fill - with some of it filled with highly treated sewage from a nearby facility.

Tracey Viney, environmental campaigner, said: "We think it will cause adverse impacts on the water quality in the reservoir. We're certain it's going to impact Langstone Harbour.

"We also think that the reject water - which will be four times more concentrated - will have an adverse impact in the Solent and the habitats that are in the Solent.

"These are public-facing bodies that should be working for their local communities."

Southern Water has launched a fresh consultation on its water recycling project.

The firm's chief executive, Lawrence Gosden, said: "Doing nothing is not the right answer. We have to build a new supply of water because there's just not enough left in the natural environment...

"I really want to work with local communities and campaigners to make sure the project works for everybody."

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