Southern Water has begun vital sewer sealing work in Sittingbourne as part of its wider work to reduce storm overflows.

The sealing programme will help reduce infiltration – where groundwater seeps into the sewer network, overwhelming treatment works and contributing to storm overflows.

The programme will be delivered in a number of phases over the next 12 months and will involve sealing 4.2km of the sewer network. This will help reduce pressure on the system and help prevent storm overflows during periods of heavy rainfall.

The scheme complements wider storm overflow reduction schemes already underway in Faversham, Whitstable, Herne Bay, and Queenborough, where nature-based and engineering solutions are being deployed to reduce storm overflows.

James Latter, Pathfinder Manager for Southern Water, said:

“Sewer sealing in Sittingbourne is one of the many tools in our armoury in our mission to protect Kent’s rivers and seas. By tackling infiltration, we’re reducing pressure on the network and helping to prevent storm overflows – especially during heavy rainfall.”

The work also forms part of Southern Water’s wider Clean Rivers and Seas Plan that involves a £1.5 billion spend in Hampshire, Kent, Isle of Wight and Sussex to reduce storm overflows.