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Environment secretary visits 'needed' reservoir

BBC Steve Reed stands to the right of the image, he is looking to the left, slightly away from the camera and has a slight frown. He wears a white protective plastic helmet and orange high vis long sleeved coat, with silver reflective stripes and a navy blue collar, he has grey short hair. The background is slightly blurred, there is a man wearing similar protective gear with a shirt and tie on underneath and a white van in the distance.BBC
Environment secretary Steve Reed says projects like the Havant Thicket Reservoir are in "desperate need"

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.

A section of land where the Havant Thicket Reservoir is being built. The land is brown dirt and there is some hillside in the background and a forest of trees. There are yellow diggers dotted across the landscape and a 4x4 truck.
The foundations are currently being laid for the Havant Thicket Reservoir

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.

Tracey Viney stands in front of a section of water at Langstone Harbour giving an interview. She looks slightly off camera and stands to the right of the image. Tracey has short brown and grey hair, with a fringe framing her face and wears a purple textured fleece, which has a zip up collar.
Tracey Viney says campaigners are "certain" recycled waste water will impact Langstone Harbour

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.

An aerial view of a water works in Portsmouth, can see a section of water which is surrounded by trees and bushes, large pillar buildings and industrial plants.
Havant Thicket Reservoir will partly be filled with highly treated sewage from a nearby treatment works facility

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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