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Reservoirs: Hampshire

Asked by Suella BravermanReform UKDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 27 April 2026UIN 129138

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the risk of pollution to the Havant Thicket Reservoir arising from treatment failures, and what steps he is taking to ensure that such risks are fully mitigated.

Answered by Emma Hardy

The Environment Agency (EA) is currently in pre‑application permit discussions with Southern Water and has advised on the evidence and data needed to support a full permit application to discharge recycled water from the advanced water treatment plant to Havant Thicket Reservoir.

As part of the permitting process, the EA will assess risks to water quality from the proposed discharge and will regulate Southern Water to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

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