However, a spokesperson for Southern Water said the Water Recycling Project is part of a series of schemes that will create ‘new drought-proof sources of water’, providing greater resilience for the Island. Cllr Andre told Sandown Town Council: “I asked for a meeting with the national project managers for Southern Water and I was given that meeting online. Sandown South town councillor Paddy Lightfoot said the process Southern Water is looking to use is not being operated in the UK and claimed it was “completely untried and untested”. Southern Water in turn claimed water recycling is a “proven and safe” process which is “widely used around the world”. Their spokesperson said: “The Isle of Wight Water Recycling Project is part of a series of schemes that will create new drought-proof sources of water.