Southern Water’s efforts to cut storm overflows in an East Sussex village have been boosted by the sealing of 2 kilometres of sewers.

The water company’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force has made Fairlight one its priority projects, in rolling out various engineering and green solutions to help slow down and reduce the amount of ground and surface water entering and overloading sewers and sites during and after intense rainfall events.

The sudden increases in flow which can then trigger storm overflows into the environment to prevent homes and communities from flooding.

Sewer sealing, in which innovative technology is utilised to line the inside of pipes so groundwater cannot force its way in, is one of the many tactics being utilised across the region as part of our £1.5 billion Clean Rivers and Seas Plan. 

Since the project began in July 2023 in Southern Water teams have:

• Sealed 2km of sewers
• Installed 341 water butts at homes and businesses covering an area of 6 hectares, allowing for rainwater to drain into the ground slowly
• Carried out detailed surveys across a further 5km of sewer spines in and around the village. This is in preparation for further sewer sealing work where a further 2km could be sealed in coming months.
• Tackled eight private surface water pipes which had been illegally connected into Southern Water sewers in the Knowle Road area.

Southern Water is holding a drop-in event with customers and local stakeholders on Thursday 6 February 2025 at at Fairlight Village Hall from 3pm to 7pm.

Task Force project manager for Fairlight, James Latter, said:

“Our work in Fairlight is really starting to make a difference and we’re seeing less surface and groundwater able to work into way into our sewers, following our sealing works and installation of hundreds of water butts.

“We still have lots more to do, and we’re looking forward to sharing our progress at our drop-in event in the village.”