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Where our water comes from.

Basically there are two kinds of raw water that are used for water supply in the UK, one being 'ground water' from wells, boreholes or springs and 'surface water' which is drawn from impounding reservoirs and rivers.

Portsmouth Water is fortunate to benefit from the vast expanse of the South Downs. Formed of chalk, the porous nature of the Downs allows the rainwater to seep down through the strata and flow through fissures towards the sea. During the summer months much of the rain will quickly evaporate or be absorbed by vegetation but the winter rainfall soaks into the ground and so replenish the groundwater reserves. All year round the water flows through the cracks and fissures on its way towards the sea.

Boreholes and Wells

To take advantage of the water flowing through the chalk, Portsmouth Water have drilled boreholes and wells at 18 locations throughout the catchment area. Up to 3.5m in diameter, and some as deep as 137m, they intercept the water flowing underground and powerful pumps bring the raw water to the surface.

Havant and Bedhampton Springs

Situated at Havant and Bedhampton, near the shore of Langstone Harbour is a unique set of 25 springs in two groups, just 6m above sea level. Thought to be the largest spring water supply in the country, possibly in the world, they help keep the cost of our water to one of the lowest.

23 of the springs are used by the Company. The yield of the springs varies according to the time of year. In winter when rainfall replenishes the chalk quicker, the yield can rise as high as 170 million litres of water per day, but during the autumn of a 'drought year' this can fall to around 53 million litres a day.

Some 30% of the water supplied by the Company comes from the Havant and Bedhampton springs.

For Geological details of the Havant and Bedhampton Springs click here.

 

Gaters MillRiver Itchen

An abstraction on the River Itchen provides the Company with up to 45 million litres a day. For environmental reasons the river intake is sited just above the tidal limit at West End near Southampton.

Not far from the treatment works is a large raw water reservoir holding up to 135 million litres. This safeguards the water supply in the case of fluctuation in river quality as well as accidental pollution of the river.