A report produced by Island Roads, the Isle of Wight’s Highways PFI contractor, reveals deeply concerning information about the fragility of Southern Water’s infrastructure.
Prepared in August 2021, the report warns that the number of failures related to Southern Water infrastructure is at “an unprecedented and unsustainable level” and that “urgent action is required to reduce the number of leaks and the number of immediate urgent works”.
Delays to planned roadworks
As well as causing disruption by needing emergency road closures, the water leakages also cause “untold delays to programmed works and measurable damage to both existing and newly treated sections of footway or carriageway”, said Island Roads.
Planned replacement works at lowest level on record
The report claims that the number of main replacement works has fallen to its lowest level on record, with the absence of any programme of works to replace aged sections of the network self-evident.
Costs for damage to roads
The report also reveals that under Section 82 of the New Roads and Street works Act, costs related to damage caused to highway infrastructure by leaking utility apparatus can be claimed back.
However, when the report was compiled in August 2021, despite recorded delivery letters to the Southern Water Chief Executive, and dialog with the local Manager, Island Roads said “no acknowledgement of any claim or acceptance that any damage has been caused as a result of their leaking apparatus, has been accepted”.
Return visits: “Extreme fragility of the supply network”
The Island Roads report reveals that in a three-year period there were a number of roads where leaking clean water apparatus required more than one visit.
It said the number of times Southern Water have to return to the same locations highlights “either poor quality of workmanship or, most likely, the extreme fragility of the supply network”.
The tables below show roads that have required multiple visits over three years due to leaks or burst pipes.
| Road | Area | Leaks |
|---|---|---|
| Carter Avenue | Shanklin | 27 |
| Carisbrooke Road | Newport | 18 |
| Sandown Road | Sandown | 16 |
| Argyll Street | Ryde | 13 |
| Adelaide Grove | East Cowes | 9 |
| Colwell Road | Freshwater | 8 |
| Road | Area | Bursts |
|---|---|---|
| Newport Road | Sandown | 7 |
| Parkhurst Road | Newport | 7 |
| Bridge Road | Cowes | 6 |
| Copse Lane | Freshwater | 6 |
| Forest Road | Newport | 6 |
| Rew Street | Cowes | 5 |
| Kite Hill | Wootton | 4 |
| Seaview Lane | Seaview | 4 |
| St Johns Road | Wroxall | 4 |
| Staplers Road | Newport | 4 |
| Whitehouse Road | Newport | 4 |
| Blackwater Road | Newport | 3 |
| Connaught Road | East Cowes | 3 |
| Eddington Road | St Helens | 3 |
| Melville Street | Ryde | 3 |
| Nodes Road | Cowes | 3 |
| Sea Street | Newport | 3 |
| St Johns Hill | Ryde | 3 |
| The Broadway | Totland | 3 |
| Yarmouth Road | Shalfleet / Bouldnor. | 3 |
| Afton Road | Freshwater | 2 |
| Artic Road | Cowes | 2 |
| Binstead Road | Ryde | 2 |
| Canteen Road | Apse Heath | 2 |
| Elenors Grove | Fishbourne | 2 |
| Green Lane | Shanklin | 2 |
| Halberry Lane | Newport | 2 |
| Medina Avenue | Newport | 2 |
| Melville street | Sandown | 2 |
| St Johns Road | Ryde | 2 |
| Victoria Grove | East Cowes | 2 |
| Newport Road | Cowes | 1 |
| Newport Road | Godshill | 1 |
| Newport Road | Whitwell | 1 |
| Southford Lane | Whitwell | 1 |
Damage from foul waste system
Island Roads added that there are numerous sites across the Isle of Wight where damage to the highway/footway has occurred because of the failure of the foul waste system.
These sites include; Tennyson Road, Yarmouth, Hope Hill, Shanklin, Shore Hill, Ventnor and North Walk, Ryde.
Must not compromise safety of road users
Further in the report it explains that Section 81 of the New Roads and Street works Act 1991 provides a statutory obligation on utility companies to maintain their apparatus such that it does not compromise the safety of users of the highway.
Between October 2019 and August 2021 a total of 442 Sections 81s were issued to utilities. Of that number 278 (63 per cent) were attributed to Southern Water.
48 were accepted, 33 were rejected, 53 were resolved, but of 144 were issued which have had no response.
Response from Southern Water
News OnTheWight have asked Southern Water for a response to the issues raised. We’ll update readers once it comes through.
