News shared by Southern Water, in their own words. Ed
Ofwat has announced proposals which, following a short consultation, would allow Southern Water to further accelerate its vital work in driving down the use of storm overflows, enabling an ambitious two-year programme to expand its nature-based and engineering solutions.
Following a number of successful pilot schemes, we have proposed to Ofwat the roll out of a range of innovative projects to stop and slow surface and groundwater reaching our sewer system, across three areas within our region:
- Isle of Wight
- Kent’s North and East coasts
- The Harbours and South Downs areas of West Sussex and Hampshire.
Investing up to a further £50m
These proposals would see us invest up to a further £50m between now and spring 2025 and we have clear plans around how we’ll start this region-wide scaled-up approach.
As well as improving our existing network, and ensuring all sewer pipes are connected correctly, much of this funding will be spent on ‘greening’ communities. Whether by installing raingarden planters, introducing swales and tree-pits to urban areas, or embarking upon new wetland schemes in the countryside, we will be embracing nature to slow the flow.
Storm overflows
Storm overflows occur when the normal sewer levels rise due to surface and groundwater entering them – usually during or after a period of rainfall.
The mechanism acts as a release valve, into the environment, so homes and communities are not flooded when pressure on the network builds. But we agree with our customers that they are not acceptable.
Gosden: Marking the beginning of the end for storm overflows
Lawrence Gosden, Southern Water CEO, said,
“Reducing the use of storm overflows and their impact on water quality is a priority for me. To do this we have to get to the root of the problem and reduce the amount of surface water entering the sewerage system.
“The opportunity to accelerate our rollout of the innovative and sustainable drainage solutions we have already piloted, on a much larger scale in three specific areas, is a positive opportunity. These tactics have proven to help reduce volumes of surface water, stop sewage spills, and bring nature back to communities.
“This comes ahead of a much wider investment of billions of pounds over the coming decades, marking the beginning of the end for storm overflows.”
Building on work already taking place
Work on the Isle of Wight will build on activity already taking place in Gurnard and Cowes, before moving onto Fishbourne, Wotton, Yarmouth and Freshwater.
In Havenstreet, we’ve already trialled the use of slow draining water butts, where two thirds of our customers took part in the scheme. By controlling the amount of water reaching the ground, we have witnessed a 70 per cent reduction in local storm overflow activity.
Find out more about all of Southern Water’s work in cutting storm overflows on our Website.
