Havant Borough Council (HBC) is urging the government and regulators to conduct immediate inspections of Southern Water’s operational sites within the borough following a decisive vote of no confidence in the water company. The motion, passed unanimously at a full council meeting on Wednesday, 7 October, signals a strong stance against the company’s environmental performance.
Councillors from all political parties supported the motion, which includes formal requests to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ofwat, and the Environment Agency. The council is calling for regulatory action against Southern Water and specifically requests inspections of the Budds Farm wastewater treatment works and the Havant Thicket reservoir site. Additionally, the council has formally asked the Planning Inspectorate to pause or re-evaluate plans for wastewater recycling at the new Havant Thicket reservoir.
The motion also mandates that Southern Water fund real-time water quality testing and electronic signage at Havant’s coastal bathing waters, including those at Hayling Island. Councillor Jonathan Hulls, who introduced the motion, stated, “This vote of no confidence sends a clear and direct message to Southern Water that we will no longer accept their continued failure to respect and protect our local environment and waters.”
Councillor Hulls highlighted the long-standing issues faced by residents, visitors, businesses, and wildlife, citing repeated discharges of untreated sewage into Langstone Harbour, Chichester Harbour, and off Hayling Island. These discharges pose significant risks to public health, local tourism, and marine economies. The council is demanding that authorities inspect Southern Water’s practices and implement necessary improvements.
Acknowledging the water shortage in the South East, HBC noted its original planning permission granted to Portsmouth Water for a freshwater reservoir. However, the council expressed concern over Southern Water’s subsequent application via a Development Consent Order (DCO) to recycle effluent through the reservoir, effectively treating sewage for drinking water. HBC believes that Southern Water must demonstrate substantial and sustained improvements before such effluent recycling is even considered, with the final DCO decision resting with the Secretary of State.
