A council did not participate in a consultation on a major water recycling project that aims to keep taps flowing in drought conditions.

Southern Water is progressing with plans for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project.

The utility company wants to create a new recycling plant to supplement Havant Thicket Reservoir.

The new plant in Havant would use advanced treatment techniques to turn treated wastewater from Budds Farm into purified recycled water.

Purified recycled water would be transferred to Havant Thicket Reservoir, where it would be mixed with spring water.

Water from the reservoir would then be pumped along a new pipeline to the Otterbourne Water Supply Works for further treatment to drinking water standards before going into supply.

The scheme is said to help alleviate pressure on using natural water sources to supply homes and businesses across the county, including in Southampton.

Southern Water held a public consultation on the scheme this summer. However, Southampton City Council did not respond.

While civic leaders have said they were “not included”, the utility firm said the council, as a neighbouring local authority and statutory consultee, received a letter outlining how to give feedback.

Cllr John Savage, cabinet member for Green City and Net Zero, said: “ We were aware of the original consultation back in the summer but were not included as the pipe is not planned to go through any of our boundaries.”

A Southern Water spokesman said: “The Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project helps keep the county’s taps and rivers flowing, especially during a drought.

“Our summer 2024 consultation was principally concerned with refinements to the project and its potential impacts.

“Engagement in the consultation focused on the areas potentially impacted by the construction and operation of the project with social media and advertising carried out across the wider Hampshire area.

“Southampton City Council, as a neighbouring local authority and statutory consultee, received a letter from us at the start of the consultation, outlining the proposals and how they could respond if they wanted to offer feedback.”

Green Party councillor for Portswood Katherine Barbour said she no longer “trusted” Southern Water to do what is right for the community and residents' long-term health.

She pointed to the issue of E. coli entering the River Itchen as one that has yet to be addressed.

“This latest project is one where they can make a significant profit on the capital part of the construction,” Cllr Barbour said.

She added: “There are more sustainable solutions that are not being considered. A winter storage reservoir would be a better option.

“They could move the abstraction point further down the Itchen to allow the river to deal with the predicted droughts and increase in winter rainfall as climate change continues.

“This scheme is very expensive in terms of electricity usage and would have to operate 365 days per year even when not needed.”

Southern Water is currently holding a separate consultation on its Water Resources Management Plan, which looks at the region’s future water needs from 2025 to 2075.

Cllr Savage said: “We are aware of the new consultation and are committed to providing our input.

“We recognise the need to meet future demands with limited resources and welcome collaborative working with Southern Water.

“We look forward to not only reviewing their plans following this consultation but also working together on resolving infrastructure challenges, such as leaks and pipe issues.”

The current consultation closes on December 4. For more details, visit waterresources.southernwater.co.uk