Portsmouth Water has begun a £4 million comprehensive environmental study this week to assess and implement actions necessary to ensure the sustainability of its future water abstraction.

The study has started with drone surveys of seven river catchment areas - the surveys are seeking to identify key locations where habitats can be improved for the benefit of wildlife.

Portsmouth Water’s supply area encompasses rare and sensitive environments surrounding chalk streams and rivers. Over the next five years, the study will investigate the environmental status and needs of the Itchen, Ems, Meon, and Lavant rivers, as well as the West Sussex rifes.

The water company said the study will provide a clearer picture of what it would take for all Portsmouth Water’s rivers to reach ‘good’ environmental status and whether this means limits will need to be placed on how much water Portsmouth Water abstracts from the ground in the future.

Portsmouth Water needs to supply an average of 178 million litres of water a day to over 740,000 people across the supply area.

The utility’s current water resource management plan prepares for losses of up to 122 million litres of water per day from existing supplies in the next 25 yearsa .

The company are planning to fill this gap through a mixture of working with customers to reduce demand for water, primarily through its smart metering programme, and potentially new sources of water that do not come directly from the environment.

The drones being used in this initial phase of the study are able to carry out hydrological drainage assessments, flood risk surveys, habitat surveys, analyse land use and look for sources of pollution.

Using thermal applications to understand temperature and changes in flow will combine to start to develop a clear picture of the environmental health of each of these areas.

Going forward, studies will also include flow and water quality monitoring as well as fish and invertebrate investigations. When complete, this data will be made freely available for students, academics and local interested parties.

The outcome of this work will shape Portsmouth Water’s strategic plans and provide evidence to support future investment plans.

Bob Taylor, Chief Executive Officer for Portsmouth Water, said:

“Against the backdrop of climate change and population growth, Portsmouth Water’s mission is to provide an affordable, reliable, and crucially, a sustainable supply of high-quality water for all its customers. The drone surveys taking place this week are a critical step to gather insights across our watercourses, enabling us to protect the local environment while ensuring we can continue to meet our customers’ water needs.”