Southern Water has submitted plans for a water recycling plant in Sandown that will be the UK’s first full-scale water recycling plant to use an integrated membrane treatment process – but it is going to take 5 years to build.
Called the Isle of Wight Water Recycling Project, it will use advanced treatment techniques to turn treated wastewater into 10.8million litres of purified recycled water a day. This purified recycled water would be released into the Eastern River Yar.
Water taken from the river downstream would be treated again at Sandown Water Supply Works to produce up to 8.5million litres of drinking water a day.
Some of the purified recycled water will be left to continue down the full length of the river so there’s more water for wildlife, at a time when the levels would have been lower.
As well as creating a new source of water for customers on the Isle of Wight, the project will reduce the amount taken from the delicate River Test on the mainland. The River Test currently supplies one-third of the Island’s water via the Cross-Solent Main.
But the build, if planning is approved, won’t begin until Summer 2026, with an estimated completion of Autumn 2031 – a 5-year project.
Ben Ring, Major Projects Director at Southern Water, has said:
“This essential project is part of a series of schemes that will create new drought-proof sources of water.
Article continues below this advertisement “These new sources will help us protect Hampshire’s chalk streams, maintain supplies for our customers and provide greater resilience for the Island.
“The project has been many years in the making. Submitting the planning application to the Isle of Wight Council is a significant milestone for Southern Water and also for the UK.”
Purified recycled water will be produced at the site using an integrated membrane treatment process comprising a membrane bioreactor and reverse osmosis, followed by ultraviolet advanced oxidation and remineralisation.
Much welcomed by SW, however there is a lot of water draining from the Undercliff where the expenditure of say £20 million would deliver three things: water for the Island; a further source of income; and, arrest landslip across the Undercliff. Additionally, capturing the ground water will extend the life of sea defences. This idea, supported by geologists and geo technical engineers who put in drainage schemes at Niton Undercliff has been dismissed by SW. It is a win win and a win for the Undercliff community who already are having trouble getting house insurance. Isn’t it time to revisit this idea? In tandem with the treatment plant?
Stop building houses and there would be less reliance on the water supply.
Or is this enabling more building in the long term?
I am very concerned about this development by southern water.
Does anyone else remember the chemical filled “canisters ” that were washed ashore then stored on that site .Large amounts of hazardous waste is stored at the site with the expert advice at the time being not to move or disturb it.