Aromas from the Water Treatment Works
Update 8th September 2025
Members of the Parish Council have now visited the treatment works and, as mentioned before, we have raised a formal complaint to Wessex Water.
To further support this complaint, we would ask that residents PHONE Wessex Water (WW) whenever they experience an odour that is not “agricultural“. A specific case reference has now been set up so that the WW team can record incidents relating to our complaint.
The phone number for Wessex Water is is 0345 600 4 600 and the specific reference to quote is 063762370001
You will be asked some questions including your name and address, the date, time and nature of the odour, and the weather conditions at that time.
Thank you for your support and, if you are able, please drop me an email ([email protected]) to let us know that you have taken this action.
Thank you.
Steve Dixon, Parish Clerk
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Update 11th July 2025
The initial response from Wessex Water was very unsatisfactory, so the Parish Council has now entered the formal Complaint process with them. This could lead to referral to the Consumer Council for Water if a proper response with proposed actions are not received.
Should the matter progress through the complaints process, it would be most helpful if:
a) parishioners lodge complaints with Wessex Water each time a stench occurs
and
b) parishioners keep an “Odour Diary” to record these occurrences.
As we are in a rural environment, we experience agricultural smells on a frequent basis, but I feel that you will know the difference between these and the type that comes from the treatment works!
To report an odour to Wessex Water, please call them on 0345 600 4600 or – better still – send an email to [email protected] and if you do so please copy me in at [email protected] so that I can build a matching picture of evidence.
If you are able to keep an “Odour Diary”, here is the template they require – in both
Word Word Document Template (opens in a new window)and
PDF PDF Version (opens in a new window).
If you could keep this going for a couple of weeks, that would be great and please send them to me (electronically please) when completed. Thank you for your support.
Steve Dixon, Parish Clerk
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Update 3rd July 2025
The Parish Council has formally written to Wessex Water to ask them for their immediate actions to resolve the issue.
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It has been noticed that on some recent days, a noxious aroma has drifted across some parts of the village with the possible source being the water treatment works (“Water Recycling Centre”).
We have contacted Wessex Water and they have replied:
Following discussions with our Operations team, an initial investigation has been conducted; however, additional information is required to complete the study.
We would be grateful if you could kindly engage with your parishioners and encourage them to report any odour complaints directly to Wessex Water (0345 600 4 600 – M to F 08.00 – 18.00) if they believe the odour originates from the Water Recycling Centre (WRC). Additionally, we request that they maintain an odour diary, noting the dates and times of any incidents. This will enable us to cross-reference the reports with operational activities on site.
Furthermore, this information will support targeted odour assessments near affected receptors to determine whether the odour plume can be traced back to the site
If you are able to maintain a diary of instances that you note, please email me with the details at [email protected] and we will continue the dialogue with the company.
Thank you
Steve Dixon, Parish Clerk