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General Information
Portsmouth
Water has been supplying water to Portsmouth and the surrounding
area since 1857. The area supplied by the Company extends through South
East Hampshire and West Sussex from the River Meon in the West to the
River Arun in the East, encompassing 868 sq. kilometres.
The Company provides high quality public water supplies to a domestic
population exceeding 652,000, as well as many important industries, large
defence establishments and varied commercial businesses.
Our
promise to all of our customers is:
‘We aim to supply drinking water of the highest quality, providing high levels of customer service and excellent value for money.’
Sources
of supply
Portsmouth
Water customers benefit from the chalk strata of the South Downs, which
provides a vast quantity of good quality ‘groundwater’ which
percolates through cracks and fissures on its underground journey from
the tops of the Downs to the sea. Groundwater levels in the chalk aquifer
fluctuate during the course of the year. Winter rains recharge aquifer
levels each year but in the summer, rain quickly evaporates or is absorbed
by vegetation, causing groundwater levels to gradually fall.
Natural
Springs
Situated at Havant and Bedhampton, just six metres above the sea level
of Langstone Harbour, are two large groups of natural springs. As many
as twenty five individual springs can be used by the Company, providing
what is believed to be the largest spring water supply used for public
consumption in the world.
The yield of the springs is entirely dictated by groundwater levels in
the South Downs chalk, rising to around 170 million litres per day in
very wet winters and falling to 53 million litres per day in extreme drought
conditions. On average the springs supply the Company with 35% of its
raw water.
Wells
and Boreholes
Since the late nineteenth century, the Company and its predecessors have
sunk wells and boreholes into the underground chalk at 18 locations throughout
its area, the oldest dating from 1860 at Maindell, near Fareham.
Powerful automatic submersible pumps raise the raw water from deep underground
before it is treated for public consumption.
River
Itchen
The Company’s only surface water source is located at Gaters Mill
on the River Itchen (close to Southampton Airport) just upstream of the
river’s tidal limit. The Company is licensed to abstract up to 45
million litres of water from the river each day. The treatment process
to convert the river water into drinking water is the most complex used
by the Company.
Water
Treatment
Raw water from underground wells and boreholes is usually of very
high quality as it has been naturally filtered during its journey through
the soil and rock strata. The only treatment normally required is a carefully
controlled dose of chlorine to eliminate any bacteria.
Whilst raw water collected from the springs at Havant and Bedhampton is
generally of a high quality, it does occasionally contain some impurities
and is, therefore, subjected to a filtration process at Farlington Water
Treatment Works to meet the stringent standards required of drinking water.
Again chlorine is added to eliminate any bacteria.
The River Itchen raw water is of poorer quality since the river collects
a variety of discharges from streams, drains and surface run-off from
adjoining fields. The water is initially pumped into an open storage reservoir
which can hold up to 135 million litres. Water from the reservoir is then
dosed with chemicals in the ‘clarification stage’ of the treatment
process where most of the smaller particles ‘settle out’. Any
remaining particles, as well as tastes, odours and other chemicals are
removed in the ‘filtration stage’ before chlorine is added to
ensure the safety and wholesomeness of the treated water leaving the works.
Storing Treated Water
Treated water is held in numerous covered ‘service reservoirs’
situated on high ground throughout the Company’s area. Up to 400
million litres of water, just over two days average supply, can be stored
to meet variations in demand, minimise pressure fluctuations in supply
and provide an emergency reserve if pumps, controls or the electricity
supply fails.
The
Distribution Network
The Company’s comprehensive network of underground pipes,
measuring more than 3,000 kilometres, delivers treated water to homes,
shops, factories, schools, hospitals, defence establishments and a whole
range of commercial businesses, as well as providing essential fire fighting
supplies. Pressures in much of the network are now carefully controlled
to minimise water losses and flows are continuously monitored to enable
leakage to be quickly identified and repaired by the Company’s Distribution
Maintenance staff.
Many pipes which date back to the 1800s continue to give admirable service,
but a continuous programme of replacement of wornout pipes ensures that
leakage and unplanned interruptions to supplies are minimised.
Ensuring Water Quality
Throughout the water supply process the Company monitors drinking
water quality by taking samples from sources, treatment works, service
reservoirs and at customers’ taps.
Analysis takes place in the Company’s purpose built Laboratory to
strict standards set down by the Statutory Water Quality Regulations.
Audits of the sampling and analytical process are conducted by the Government’s
‘Drinking
Water Inspectorate’ who regularly report that the Company has one
of the highest pass rates in the country. When an isolated failure occurs
the cause is separately investigated.
Being derived from the chalk aquifer, the Company’s water is moderately
‘hard’. This can cause problems with the build up of limescale
on hot water appliances, but hard drinking water is believed by the medical
profession to be better for human health than soft water.
History
The first Act of Parliament to deal with the supply of water to
Portsmouth was passed in 1740. Amalgamation of predecessor companies led
to the creation of Portsmouth Water in 1857. Pumping from Havant and Bedhampton
Springs by
steam driven engines first started in 1860 but a continuous supply of
water
“On Tap” was not brought into use until 1880.
Water treatment at Farlington Treatment Works commenced in 1910 when
slow sand filters were first used but regular chlorination for the disinfection
of supplies was not introduced until 1928.
As the Company prospered, so it embarked on a period of expansion, doubling
its area of supply first in 1955 when it amalgamated with the Gosport
Waterworks Company and then again in 1963 when it took over water supply
responsibilities in and around the Bognor Regis and Chichester areas.
To meet
increased demand from the enlarged area and the rapidly expanding population,
further springs at Havant and Bedhampton were brought into use
and new boreholes were constructed throughout the area. It was 110 years
after its formation that Portsmouth Water opened new headquarters at Havant
in 1966.
At
around the same time, it began preparations for the River Itchen Scheme
which when completed in 1974, cost £4 million.
During the 1990s and through to today, the Company has implemented a continuous
programme of modernisation, refurbishment and replacement of its treatment
works, pumping stations and water mains, reinvesting on average over £6
million per annum.
Throughout the long history of Portsmouth Water, the commitment of the
Company and its staff has always remained unchanged - to provide drinking
water of the highest quality at the most cost effective price.
Customer
Services
Portsmouth Water
has a proud history of providing high quality service to its customers
whilst having the lowest water supply charges in England and Wales. Our
dedicated Customer Service Staff are available to answer all customer
calls ranging from supply problems through to account queries, whilst
our Operations Centre is manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to deal
with all supply emergencies.
Levels of Customer Service are audited annually by the water industry
regulator, The Office of Water Services (OFWAT), who consistently report
that the service provided by the Company is at the highest level.
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