MP calls for better abstraction protection for chalk river

Havant MP Alan Mak has called on Portsmouth Water to do more to protect the chalk River Ems in Emsworth from abstraction.

In a letter to Portsmouth Water chief executive, Bob Taylor, Mak welcomed the company’s acknowledgment of the need for greater monitoring but said the situation demanded “more protective measures now”. Specifically, the letter called for:

• short-term steps to reduce the environmental impact of abstractions from the Ems;

• plans to minimise the impact of abstractions on the river and its ecosystem as an interim measure, especially during times of water stress; and.

• a long-term plan to progressively reduce and eventually eliminate abstractions from the Ems entirely.

Mak also asked whether the Havant Thicket reservoir might alleviate abstraction pressure on the Ems.

Responding, Taylor clarified the Portsmouth’s abstractions were from the aquifer that feeds the Ems rather than from the river itself and that one of its two abstraction points is purely to supplement flows in the river during dry weather. However, he accepted the need to do more and said Portsmouth is working with the Environment Agency to explore alternatives that would allow it to take less from the Ems, as well as on plans to review all of its abstraction sites.

Taylor also set out other activities being undertaken including supporting monitoring, supporting the local catchment partnership to devise a catchment plan, reducing leaks, planning a universal smart meter rollout in AMP8, and longer term strategic transfer planning. As configured at present, he confirmed Havant Thicket would not enable reduced abstraction from the Ems.