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Poole Transfer Strategic Resource Option

The Poole Water Recycling and Transfer scheme is one of three flagship projects to secure water resources across the West Country for generations to come.

Background of the project

The process of taking water from a natural source is known as abstraction, and for those who live in parts of Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire, much of the water is abstracted from the Hampshire Avon and the Dorset Stour.

This area is collectively known as the Bournemouth Water Resources Zone and serves a population of approximately 454,000 including Bournemouth, Christchurch, Lymington and Fordingbridge.

The Hampshire Avon and its tributaries are chalk streams recognised internationally for their unique characteristics and biodiversity, with its lower reaches from Bicton to Christchurch being designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Every day, 120 million litres (Ml/d) is abstracted from the Hampshire Avon.

We have a responsibility to protect the environment from which we take water to be treated and put into supply. To do this, we need to significantly reduce the volumes we abstract and find another source of water to make sure there isn’t a risk of supply to our customers.

What we will be doing

The Poole SRO will divert treated water from Wessex Water’s Poole water recycling centre to the River Stour via a new pipeline to a new water recycling plant (where the water receives further treatment), from where flows will be split, discharging upstream of Sturminster Marshall and through a wetland near Corfe Mullen.

The additional water discharged to the river will be re-abstracted at Longham Lakes, treated at Aldernay water treatment centre and released into Bournemouth Water’s existing supply system.

The current assumption is that approximately 28 million litres per day (Ml/d) of water will be treated at the water recycling centre before being discharged into the River Stour, with 25 Ml/d being re-abstracted at Longham lakes.

Development of the scheme will be overseen by the Regulators Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID), a partnership of the three national water regulators, Ofwat, the Environment Agency, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate. RAPID was formed to support and accelerate the development of new water supply infrastructure to meet future water needs.

In the West Country we need to find new sources of water so we can continue to meet the demand from our customers, communities and businesses.

We are already minimising leakage and maximising water efficiency, but without developing new ways to store water and transport it, we are likely to face shortages in the future caused by:

  • a growing population
  • more heatwaves and droughts
  • tighter environmental regulations reducing the volume of water that can be taken from the environment.

What are the benefits for the environment?

The Poole Water Transfer and Recycling scheme offers multiple environmental benefits in addition to providing a drought resilient water resource.

It will:

  • improve flows along approximately 15km of the River Stour when natural flows are low in dry summers
  • facilitate a reduction in abstraction from the River Avon
  • divert effluent from entering Poole Harbour.

How will the community be consulted?

If you live or work close to the proposed new pipeline or associated infrastructure, you may be affected by the construction of this scheme.

The environmental and social impact of the scheme, including those that arise during construction, will be assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process and documented in the Environmental Statement (ES).

As the design of the scheme continues to develop, we will be working closely with local communities and affected landowners, as well as stakeholders such as local authorities.

This will allow us to identify and, wherever possible, avoid, reduce, and mitigate against any disruption the construction may cause.

Timescales

  • Summer 2025: public consultation.
  • Spring 2027: planning application submitted.
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We are working on three schemes called Strategic Resource Options (SROs). These flagship projects will ensure we secure essential water supply for the future.