Almost 200 homes in Dorset have been safeguarded from flooding thanks to a programme of works to improve the county’s sewerage system.
Following a multi-million pound investment by Wessex Water during the last five years 192 homes in Dorset have been removed from the flood register.The milestone means homes in the county will have long term protection during times of intense rainfall, which had previously overwhelmed the sewerage system.
Matt Wheeldon, head of wastewater at Wessex Water, said:
“Safeguarding homes in Dorset from internal flooding is a top priority and these vital improvements will have brought peace of mind to those with properties that had been affected by sewage flooding.”
During the last five years, on average, more than three properties a month have been taken off the flood register.
Work to safeguard homes included a £2.5m scheme to alleviate flooding in Florence Road and Bournemouth Road, Poole.
It involved the creation of a tunnel below the A35 Bournemouth Road which was 480m long. The scheme was designed to minimise the impact of the work on motorists and special tunnelling equipment was used so that the busy road could remain open while work took place.
In total 45 properties in Poole were removed from the flood register during the past five years as a result of this project and other smaller schemes.
Almost 1,000m of sewer was laid in Bournemouth to reduce the risk of flooding at 27 properties in and around Elms Way.
The project took just over three months and included work in seven roads. Another major investment in the town was in Hinton Road where work was carried out to increase the capacity of the sewerage network. In five years 44 properties in Bournemouth were removed from the flood register.
Mr Wheeldon added:
“Although many of these fundamental improvements will never see the light of day because they are hidden below the ground, they perform the essential task of protecting homes from flooding.
“All these projects have contributed to an enhancement of Dorset’s sewerage system as part of Wessex Water’s commitment to ensure our operations provide adequate drainage for properties and do not adversely impact on the environment.”
Wessex Water is investing around £500 million over the next five years to improve sewerage and sewage treatment infrastructure. The work will involve reducing the risk of flooding for more than 500 properties and public areas and making improvements to meet new environmental standards.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
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