Portsmouth Water has said that while there are arguments for and against fracking, it is the role of Government to balance these, not Portsmouth Water.

The company was commenting in a status update on proposals to carry out fracking in the water company's area of supply.

Porstmouth Water said that it was the water company’s responsibility in the area to ensure that theprovision of safe and high quality water was not compromised by such activities as fracking for shale gas, adding:

“There are arguments for and against fracking, it is the role of Government to balance these, not Portsmouth Water.”

Before fracking for shale gas can commence, a number of statutory applications must be made by the oil exploratory company.  The Environment Agency is responsible for ground water and environmental protection and is responsible for any proposals to ensure that groundwater and the environment is protected, should hydraulic fracking be implemented.

Potsrmouth Water said it is now a statutory consultee in the process and working very closely with the Environment Agency and Hampshire County Council regarding any application.

Before any fracking can commence, exploratory boreholes are drilled by the oil exploration company in order to determine the viability of the site.  The drilling of the holes are governed by statutory processes. 

Portsmouth Water has recently worked closely with the Environment Agency regarding an application for an exploratory borehole in the Havant area and objected on the basis of adverse risk. 

The oil company has withdrawn its application and considering the Environment Agency's comments.

Portsmouth Water added:

“We will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency to ensure we are able to deliver safe, high quality water to our customers both in the short and long term.”