Our work 2024 25
Water Matters and Effluent Recycling
We support other organisations in campaigning against the release of untreated sewage into our Harbours and the Solent.
We are also part of Water Matters, a group of local organisations which are opposed to Southern Water’s plans to build a water recycling plant at Broadmarsh.
- Will take effluent from Budds Farm sewage works and process it.
- Will use reverse osmosis (forcing water through fine membranes), ultra violet light and chemicals, to remove most contaminants.
Case for recycling
Due to a change in regulations, Southern Water now think that Havant Thicket Reservoir will not be able to provide enough water to south-west Hampshire during an extreme drought.
- Recycled effluent to be pumped to the Reservoir to mix with spring water.
- Mixed water to be pumped 40 km to Otterbourne for further treatment.
- For distribution to south-west Hampshire as drinking water.
Effluent recycling already occurs elsewhere in the world, in more drought stricken countries. Can be successful but needs:
- Very careful monitoring and management
- We can’t trust Southern Water to safely do this.
- If contamination enters the Reservoir, will effect the drinking water of thousands of people.
- Recycled effluent often used for industry and agriculture, rather than for drinking water.
Contamination risks
Trial recycling plant at Budds Farm failed to test for all possible contaminants, including
- Forever chemicals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pollution testing in the Harbours proved many contaminants of concern coming from sewage, the basis of the recycling process.
- No plan to control the sewage catchment e.g. possible chemical pollution from industrial processes, before it is recycled.
Who will drink the recycled effluent
People in the Portsmouth Water area currently receive most of their water from
- Bedhampton chalk springs
- From around 2035 they will receive this mixed water during times of drought.
- From the 2040s they will routinely receive the mixed water and it will also be drunk by people in West Sussex.
Risks from the Recycling process
It is planned to build the recycling plant on top of a toxic landfill site at Broadmarsh in Havant, which includes asbestos waste.
- Extensive underground pipework will disturb landfill
- Risk of contaminating Langstone Harbour and its wildlife.
- Safer locations for the plant have so far been rejected.
- Concentrated reject water from the recycling process will be sent into the Solent via the Eastney Long Sea Outfall with possible harmful results to sea life.
- Technology is not fit for purpose. Must run 365 days per year even when extra water is not needed.
- Huge amounts of electricity needed to run the plant, when there will be other heavy demands on the grid from e.g. data centres and EV charging.
Risk higher carbon emissions when they should be reducing.
- Extremely large bills for Southern Water’s customers due to:
- Construction costs. Likely £1.2 billion.
- Operational costs (electricity and chemicals) estimated to be £3 million per year.
Alternative Solutions
Cheaper and more sustainable alternative solutions to recycling effluent.
Climate change will bring:
- Periods of drought
- But also periods of heavy rain. We only gather 1% of this free water.
- 3 reservoirs the size of Havant Thicket could be built for the price of the recycling plant.
- Underground aquifers could be used to store water.
- River abstraction could be moved downstream to just above sea level, solving the problem of over-abstraction leaving rivers without enough water for wildlife.
Fixing leaks
Southern Water have a very poor record of fixing leaking water supply pipes, and replacing water mains when needed.
- They lose 22% of water abstracted of which 90 million litres per day is treated drinking water.
- They say that they can only reduce leakage by 53% by 2050.
- However a water leaks specialist has advised us that they could reduce water loss by 53% by 2040 and 70% by 2050.
If this could be done there would be no need for additional water from recycling.
Alternative options need to be pursued. If they are not sufficient to replace effluent recycling, at least they can delay the recycling project, which may enable the technology to develop further so that it is more fit for purpose as a drought resource.
Southern Water are expected to submit their Plan (Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project) to the Secretary of State in March, when they will be seeking a Development Consent Order. After that there will be a 12 week consultation period. It is important that as many people as possible should raise their concerns about this. We will be doing so.
Havant Climate Alliance 