Southern Water bans tankers doing runs to US billionaire’s lake

Southern Water has warned tanker firms to cease delivering its water to the Wiltshire property of an American billionaire.

A few of it was not too long ago used, solely legally, to assist fill a lake, regardless of a hosepipe ban being in place domestically for home customers.

A number of water tankers have been filmed each day and evening by native residents filling up from standpipes in a part of neighbouring Hampshire the place a drought order is in place.

The BBC has been instructed that these tankers went to Conholt Park, a 2,500 acre property owned by Stephen Schwarzman – who is likely one of the world’s richest males and a monetary backer of US President Donald Trump.

A spokesperson for Mr Schwarzman confirmed {that a} small proportion of the water transported had very not too long ago been used to assist fill a brand new lake however mentioned the water has been “sourced by licenced suppliers answerable for the lawful and correct extraction and supply”. They mentioned a sophisticated irrigation system was how the lake would primarily be stuffed.

Regardless of the continuing drought, the tankers are legally allowed to take the water in Hampshire beneath licence as a result of building work is just not home and subsequently not lined by present drought restrictions.

Nonetheless, Tim McMahon, Southern Water’s managing director, mentioned he was “appalled by this use of water” and that the corporate had imposed on quick ban on tankers extracting from the standpipes.

Southern Water mentioned it didn’t know precisely how a lot water had been taken however that there had been a spike within the final week with “vital” quantities taken however with different customers additionally making use of the standpipes it was unattainable to say who had taken extra.

The water agency, which serves extra then two million prospects, mentioned it was first alerted by residents in Andover who had noticed the tankers coming and going from the standpipes.

Amongst them was Laurence Leask, an air-con inspector who instructed the BBC that he has been waking up at 03:00 BST to comply with the tankers from the standpipes in Andover to the property eight miles away, simply over the border in Wiltshire, which isn’t topic to a drought order at current.

“We expect there have been over 30 tankers a day, seven days every week,” he mentioned.

“That is a whole lot of water. I labored out that 30 tankers means one million litres a day, one thing like that.”

He mentioned it had been occurring for the previous few months, prompting him to co-ordinate a community of neighbours who took it in turns to movie and comply with the tankers.

A type of, Trevor Marshall, mentioned: “We expect they is likely to be utilizing the water to fill the lake. He makes notes of the tankers passing his kitchen window and sends them to Laurence.

“On the identical time we’re on a hosepipe ban – it is extremely outrageous.”

Mr Schwarzman is likely one of the world’s richest males, with an estimated value of greater than £30bn, having based Blackstone, one of many greatest funding funds on the planet.

He has been renovating the two,500 acre, seventeenth century capturing property since he purchased it in 2022 for an estimated £80m.

That includes an intensive redevelopment and developing a brand new lake.

A press release from Blackstone mentioned: “The suggestion that the brand new house owners of Conholt Park violated water laws is fake and deceptive.

“They’ve taken extraordinary care to make sure the restoration of the property complies with all native legal guidelines and laws. Most not too long ago, as building winds down (anticipated to be accomplished very quickly) a proportion of transported water has been utilized in reference to irrigation and the lake.

“The water has been sourced by licenced suppliers answerable for the lawful and correct extraction and supply. Water has been sourced from a number of places, largely exterior the area. Any suggestion that the house owners violated native water laws can be false and deceptive.”

Southern Water mentioned it could be “having strong conversations with these utilizing this water and the businesses engaged on their behalf”.

Managing director Tim McMahon mentioned: “Whereas this disappointing prevalence is very uncommon and uncommon, I want to reassure prospects that I’m main a radical evaluation into how this occurred, and the way we will tighten up each our inside monitoring processes and any authorized loopholes in order that this can’t occur once more.”