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A study into the sustainability of abstraction from the River Itchen was undertaken to establish whether Habitats Directive species were adversely affected by the activities of Portsmouth Water and Southern Water services, the study was concluded in 2007/08.

The outcome for the abstraction licence at Gaters Mill, the point of abstraction for the River Itchen Water Treatment Works, is a reduction in summer monthly abstraction or peak deployable output, and imposition of a minimum residual flow or ‘hands off’ flow condition which restricts abstraction from the river when flow falls to a specified level, together with an annual licence reduction. The implications of the sustainability reductions have been included in the company’s draft water resources plan as submitted to the Secretary of State in March 2008.

Chichester and Langstone Harbours are Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the Habitats Directive. A study into the sustainability of abstraction from the Company’s West Sussex sources was undertaken to establish whether wading birds were adversely affected by the activities of the water company, the study was concluded in 2007/08.

The outcome of the Habitats Directive for the abstraction licence at Havant and Bedhampton Springs is the application of a minimum residual flow condition to the Hermitage Stream and ‘Hampshire Lavant’ which is likely to reduce the peak drought output of the spring’s source. The peak and annual abstraction licensed quantities remain unaffected.

The outcome of the Habitats Directive for the Fishbourne source is the imposition of an autumnal restriction which limits weekly abstractions but would not affect the peak drought output of the site.

Fishbourne together with a further group of five abstraction sites will have an aggregated licence with an annual abstraction of 15% less than the sum of the individual licence. As there are no further restrictions to the group there will be no impact upon peak deployable outputs.

Whilst the Habitats Directive outcomes have been published for the Chichester and Langstone Harbours the company intends to continue the existing studies of over wintering bird behaviour in the Harbours as part of the ecological studies associated with the Havant Thicket Winter Storage Reservoir.

Please click here to visit our Havant Thicket Winter Storage Reservoir Website.