Major concerns over Southern Water 'drought' plan which could close businesses
Businesses could see sweeping restrictions, including the forced closure of certain swimming pools and car washes 'if necessary'.
Major concerns have been raised on the effects the plan could have on the Test and Itchen's wildlife, with one Itchen river activist branding the move a "lethal cocktail" for wildlife.
Southern Water itself was unable to rule out an 'adverse effect' on endangered salmon living in the area.
Changes to Southern Water's current rules
Currently, the utility company can take the equivalent of 80 million litres of water per day from the River Test, provided the overall flow of the river remains above 355 million litres per day.
But the company now wants to lower this licensed limit, meaning it would be allowed to continue taking water until the flow drops to 265 million litres per day.
READ MORE: 6 rules you need to follow during Hampshire hosepipe ban to avoid £1,000 fine
Southern Water said they cannot simply stop taking water from the Test as it was "necessary" to ensure taps remain running, confirming to the Echo that the region is now "in drought".
'We follow a strict legal process, set by the government and regulators, to ensure we are taking the correct steps to both keep supplying water to our customers and to mitigate any negative environmental impact at the same time," a spokesperson told the Echo.
Further restrictions would only be brought in if "absolutely necessary", Southern Water said, and would only be needed "if river flows fall below 355 million litres per day".
Businesses could be restricted in upgraded hosepipe ban
The change is part of the utility company's Drought Order, which has been submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) due to a 'threat of a serious deficiency in supplies of water'.
While a hosepipe ban came into effect on Monday, it does not currently impact businesses.
But part of the Drought Order means that a Non-Essential Use Ban (NEUB) could potentially be issued, which would see businesses forced to comply with 10 hosepipe restrictions.
READ MORE: No discount for hosepipe ban, Southern Water confirms
Southern Water said this will only be implemented 'if necessary', but its enforcement would see car wash businesses banned from using hosepipes to clean vehicles.
Mechanic vehicle washers would also not be allowed under the Drought Direction 2011, and swimming pools that are only open to paying members may have to close.
'If river levels continue to drop and a NEUB is required, further information will be provided,' a spokesperson for Southern Water said.
Potential "adverse effect" on protected River Itchen
Gavin Millar from Friends of the Itchen Estuary, who branded potential plans a lethal cocktail. (Image: Friends of the Itchen Estuary) An environmental report conducted by the company concluded that an adverse effect on the River Itchen's Special Area of Conservation 'cannot be discounted'.
Reduced flows in the Test could impact the Itchen's salmon population, the company said.
Gavin Millar sampling river water. (Image: Friends of the Itchen Estuary) Speaking on behalf of the Friends of the Itchen Estuary, Gavin Millar said the impact of Southern Water's 'excessive water extraction' are evident in low levels, elevated water temperatures and long-term declining ecology.
He branded this a 'lethal cocktail' for 'critically endangered chalk stream salmon'.
This very rare sub-species of Atlantic salmon is only found in six habitats, two of which are the Rivers Test and Itchen.
READ MORE: Work begins on £100m pipeline to boost Southampton's water supply
'Salmon have been swimming in the waters of the Test and Itchen for hundreds of thousands of years but are now at risk of being wiped out for good,' the Test and Itchen Association's director Paul Vignaux explained.
He argued Hampshire 'urgently' needs new sources of water, like the Havant Thicket reservoir which is not expected to be operational until at least 2031.
'Until then we will have a shortfall of water in the county and it's our rivers that will be picking up the slack,' Paul said.
Hampshire "urgently" needs "sustainable solutions", rivers trust argues
Dave Rumble, chief executive of Wessex Rivers Trust. (Image: Wessex River Trust) Dave Rumble, chief executive of Wessex Rivers Trust, agreed that the county 'urgently' needs 'sustainable solutions' to reduce reliance on taking water from rivers.
'This Drought Order highlights just how close to the edge our freshwater environment already is,' he told the Echo.
A spokesperson for Southern Water said it has proposed several monitoring, mitigation, and compensation measures to offset the potential effects of the Drought Order.
'These measures are a mixture of actions that are already in place and more that will be implemented over the next year,' the spokesperson continued.
'If we need to implement a Drought Order, we would monitor and react to environmental conditions as required.'
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