Plans for major pipeline from Ford to Pulborough as Southern Water develops recycling project
Plans for a new underground pipeline stretching between 20km and 30km are being developed as part of a water recycling scheme in Ford.
Led by Southern Water, the Ford Water Recycling Project would involve building a new water recycling plant beside Ford Wastewater Treatment Works, with a pipeline transporting purified recycled water to the River Rother near Hardham.
The final route has yet to be confirmed, with the project still at the “developing proposals stage”. However, the pipeline is expected to begin at Ford and end near Hardham, potentially passing through areas around Arundel, Bury and Watersfield. A separate 240-metre pipeline would connect the existing wastewater treatment works to the new recycling plant.
Residents had the opportunity to learn more about the proposals at Ford Village Hall on October 21. Another opportunity to ask questions will be available during a webinar on November 4, from 6pm to 7pm.
Under the proposals, wastewater would undergo advanced treatment at the new plant before being released into the Western Rother upstream. Water would then be taken from the river downstream and treated to drinking water standards.
Southern Water says the approach is designed to offset water removed from the river, helping to maintain river levels while providing an additional source of drinking water.
The company says the project could provide up to 15 million litres of additional water a day during drought conditions, improving resilience to future shortages and helping protect the environment.
Southern Water says climate change, population growth and the need to protect rivers and groundwater are putting increasing pressure on traditional water supplies.
The company estimates England will need to find an additional five billion litres of water every day by 2055.
The Western Rother is a chalk stream fed by underground aquifers and the largest tributary of the River Arun. It supports protected habitats and species in the Arun Valley.
Southern Water says the scheme could reduce reliance on groundwater abstraction at Pulborough, helping maintain water levels in the river and protect sensitive habitats during dry weather.
“Creating new sources of water means we can leave more in chalk stream rivers and the aquifers that feed them, especially during droughts when nature needs it most,” the company said.
The proposals may raise questions about the safety of drinking recycled water and its potential impact on the environment.
Wastewater can contain PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals”, which can accumulate in people and animals and have been associated with health concerns including certain cancers and hormone disruption. It can also contain phosphates, which can contribute to eutrophication in chalk streams, encouraging algal growth that reduces oxygen levels and harms aquatic life.
Southern Water says its proposed treatment process includes reverse osmosis, designed to remove dissolved impurities as small as 50,000 times narrower than a human hair, followed by ultraviolet treatment with advanced oxidation to remove additional impurities.
The company says water recycling has been used to supply drinking water around the world for more than 40 years, with advanced treatment processes designed to remove PFAS, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants.
For wildlife, Southern Water says maintaining river flows during droughts is a key aim of the project. However, before recycled water can be released into the Rother, the company will need an environmental permit from the Environment Agency and must demonstrate that the scheme would not adversely affect water quality, wildlife or protected habitats.
Southern Water says it is carrying out environmental surveys, water quality assessments and river modelling, while working with regulators to assess the proposals.
The project remains under development, and further details, including the pipeline route, will be confirmed as plans progress.