Rescue plan launched for river at “cliff edge”
A
group campaigning to save their local river has drawn up a
rescue plan to bring it back from the “cliff edge” of
disaster. The
plan would stop millions of litres
being pumped from the
underground sources of the River
Ems by Portsmouth Water.
●
From now until 2025, PW would voluntarily reduce or stop
abstraction when groundwater levels fell below an agreed
point.
●
From 2025, abstraction by PW
would significantly reduce
or stop, permanently, in an attempt to achieve a natural
flow in the river.
“It’s clear that the
amount of abstraction allowed by the licences was far too
high when they were granted in the 1960s. Something needs to
be done quickly, and we want to meet the EA and PW as soon
as possible to discuss our plan.”
The Ems is a haven for
protected wildlife and one of only about 200 such chalk
streams in the world. It flows through the South Downs
National Park and into Chichester Harbour, via Westbourne
and then Emsworth.
More News
from Emsworth
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