Following concerns raised by resident groups in the borough, the Leader of Havant Borough Council, Councillor Alex Rennie, hosted and chaired a public meeting held at the Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, Havant on Wednesday 15 February 2023.
Representatives from both water companies were invited to give a presentation and answer questions put to them by residents on the proposals to recycle treated wastewater. Residents were given the opportunity to ask Portsmouth Water and Southern Water questions about how water is provided in the future, taking into account the growing need and the pressures of climate change. This includes the proposed Hampshire Water Transfer and Recycling Project, which would use Havant Thicket Reservoir.
Councillor Alex Rennie said: “How we source fresh water is a critical issue for our society to address, with climate change making this increasingly challenging. The proposal to use enhanced treated wastewater would be the first time this technology would be used in this country. Given the Solent’s high-quality environment, this proposal is a massive concern to our residents.
“I wanted to give our residents every opportunity to ask questions directly to both water companies on their proposals. This will enable them to take part in the consultation currently being run by Southern Water, with an informed opinion of the proposals.”