At Wednesday’s Full Council meeting, Councillor Michael Lilley (LibDem) asked the leader whether Isle of Wight council would be holding Southern Water to account over storm overflows containing sewage flowing onto Ryde beaches.
The councillor for Ryde Appley and Elmfield also highlighted that due to the torrential rain in January, there were huge increases in sewage discharges, 105 in January 2025 the highest on record for Ryde beaches. He called for Southern Water to be held to account.
Ammonia being released on the beach
The councillor also brought up the issue of broken pipes and the release of ammonia on Appley beach.
Councillor Lilley told OnTheWight this morning (Thursday) that has asked urgently for notices to be put up as he is “really concerned about health and safety”.
He advises everyone to keep a distance at present from site and to not allow their dogs to go near it.
SW: Leak coming from IWC/Island Roads-owned surface water line
OnTheWight got in touch with Southern Water on Wednesday to find out more. A spokesperson replied late on Wednesday night to tell OnTheWight,
“Overnight (Tuesday/Wednesday) we were able start the dig repair, but as we exposed the pipe we found that the leak was not coming from our long sea outfall, the leak is coming from what we believe is a Council/Island Roads owned surface water line.
“We have made contact with the IW Council and Island Roads drainage/highway teams to make them aware, we have left our fencing in place until someone can take over the site and install their safety barriers.
“There were traces of ammonia in the line, we are going to continue to investigate the cause of this reading by surveying the area upstream. This could be stagnant water in the line giving the reading or a potential miss connection.”
The ammonia samples taken at the site returned readings of 0.25 and 0.5.
Updated statement from SW
Later today, Southern Water have confirmed via the council that,
“We have completed our investigation, and the ammonia reading is due to stagnant water/rotting vegetation in the line. To confirm, we tested the manhole next to the lifeboat station and this reading was 0 we tested further upstream and again 0. This reading came from naturally occurring vegetation stagnating in line or local animals or wildlife in the beach area.
“As this is not sewage water and the ammonia level has dropped there is not an imminent health risk.”
A spokesperson has also informed OnTheWight,
“We have completed our investigation and the ammonia reading is due to rotting vegetation/local environment. We tested several manholes upstream from the outfall and all tested zero for ammonia. We do not have any assets connected to the surface water line.
“We have made the IW Council and Island Roads aware of this and have accepted the results of our investigation. They have asked we remove the barriers and reinstate the beach as soon as possible.”
Jordan: “We must make our concerns known”
At the Full Council meeting, the leader, Phil Jordan, said he shared the concerns, and agreed that there should be fewer discharges into the sea.
He highlighted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the council holds with Southern Water, adding that although they need to work with the water company, they should also hold them to account.
He touched on medium to long-term schemes taking place to assist in the capture of water before it goes into the system, but added that, “We must make our concerns known”.
OnTheWight has been in touch with Island Roads this morning who are working on a response which we will add once we receive it.
Article edit
11.39am 5th Mar 2025 – IR update added
