Residents of Somerset could potentially face higher water bills to accommodate the construction of new homes in Dorset, as revealed by a local councillor. Both Somerset and Dorset have encountered delays in building thousands of new homes due to the phosphates crisis, necessitating additional mitigation measures to protect internationally protected wetlands.
The Somerset Levels and Moors, along with the Poole Harbour area, were designated as ‘special catchment areas’ by Natural England in August 2020, demanding additional mitigation to prevent a rise in phosphates. In line with recent government legislation, Wessex Water has pledged to upgrade a significant number of its waste water treatment plants, aiming to reduce phosphate discharge into the protected areas and clearing the way for additional home construction.
However, Councillor Henry Hobhouse disclosed that the number of waste plants in Dorset set to be upgraded exceeds those in Somerset, possibly leading to Somerset taxpayers bearing the expense. Under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA), water companies were mandated to enhance their waste water treatment plants to remove larger quantities of phosphates than initially permitted.
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The upgrades must be completed by May 2031 and apply to all waste water treatment plants serving a population of 2,000 or more people. While Wessex Water has committed to upgrading all applicable Somerset plants by April 1, 2030, and has agreed to implement “stretch permits” at specific sites to exceed LURA requirements, in Dorset, the company has committed to upgrading all plants serving 1,000 people or more.
At a meeting of Somerset Council’s strategic planning committee, Mr. Hobhouse emphasized the potential financial implications, stating that Somerset residents may be charged for phosphate removal from smaller sewage farms to benefit Poole Harbour. He further asserted that Wessex Water’s planned upgrades across Somerset would suffice to unlock all delayed homes, making other mitigation methods redundant.
The Poole Harbour catchment area encompasses rivers and smaller water bodies within the Dorset national landscape. Approximately 3,500 homes in Dorset have experienced delays due to the phosphates issue, a significantly lower number than in Somerset. Legal advice provided by Natural England in August 2020 supports the approach being taken in Dorset.
While Dorset Council has secured government funding to aid nitrogen mitigation within the Poole Harbour catchment, Somerset Council received a similar grant to support nutrient credit schemes and additional mitigation projects. Wessex Water confirmed that their upgrades in Somerset would surpass the necessary phosphate removal for the remaining homes, emphasizing that the planning authority would decide how this is factored into nutrient neutrality requirements.