Letter: Water company all at sea over the Solent
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: I was interested to read your article 'Solent ruling could increase water bills' (8 October). The waters of the Solent are the most important enclosed recreational waters in these islands. Any civilised community would see the importance of proper waste management in the Solent and Spithead.
Southern Water is arguing that the Solent should be classed as the sea, rather than an estuary. Anyone with any knowledge of this area knows that the tidal regime does not allow the complete exchange of water that is experienced in the sea.
There are well-known areas where circulation takes place, and there is no great exchange. For example, Pennington, just outside the Lymington river, is a rich shellfish area. However, this is no longer available because of the standard of effluent that comes from the Pennington outfall. As a consequence, the fishery has been officially closed.
The Solent has been recognised as an estuary from earliest times, and the Department of the Environment would be failing in its duty if it gave so much as a nod to Southern Water's application to reclassify these waters.
Yours faithfully,
MALDWIN DRUMMOND
Chairman
Regional Rivers Advisory
Committee
National Rivers Authority
(Southern Region)
Fawley,
Hampshire
18 October
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments