A PLAN to pump millions of gallons of salt water from the Solent into Hampshire homes can be revealed today.
Water bosses want to invest in a new £73m scheme which transforms sea water into tap water. It comes after environment experts warned that the county is heading for a water crisis unless urgent steps are taken.
The proposed desalination plant would be built by Southern Water at a site in either Fawley or Millbrook.
It would provide tap water to about 250,000 homes in times of drought or low rainfall.
The company has produced the scheme after being told by the Environment Agency (EA) that it must reduce how much fresh water it takes from the River Itchen.
The EA fears that the river's unique wildlife, including migrating salmon and the southern damselfly, will not survive if water companies continue to rely so heavily on it to supply their customers during the summer.
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