Southern Water is making good progress on two major storm overflow reduction schemes on the Hampshire and West Sussex border.
The projects, covering the communities of Bosham, Emsworth, Nutbourne, and Southbourne, are utilising a mix of innovative engineering solutions to reduce the amount of rainwater entering sewers.
This will help cut storm overflow releases and improve water quality in Chichester Harbour.
Work in Bosham started in 2024, where investigations and initial improvements have already taken place. Work has just started in Emsworth as part of the wider Thornham storm overflow reduction scheme.
Teams are currently on the ground in Emsworth installing a new surface water sewer. This involves separating roof drainage from the foul sewer so that rainwater flows into the new surface water system instead.
By reducing the volume of water entering the combined sewer, the works will help prevent storm overflows. More than 40 homes at Gordon Road have already engaged with us and agreed to have this work carried out. The water company expects this work to be finished at the end of the month. Similar projects are planned across the area over the next two years.
Southern Water is currently sealing public and private sewers in the Nutbourne area preventing ground water infiltration into the wastewater network reducing the impact on the school lane pumping station.
Reducing Overflows at Chichester Harbour
The investment forms part of Southern Water’s £1.5 billion Clean Rivers and Seas Plan, which aims to drastically cut storm overflow releases and protect the environment across Hampshire, Kent, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight.
Efforts in Chichester Harbour are a key part of the utility’s role in the Three Harbours Partnership – alongside Langstone and Pagham – where organisations are working together to protect and enhance the environments, focusing on water quality, carbon capture, and biodiversity.
Other actions to help improve water quality in Chichester Harbour are sewer sealing projects across the Lavant Valley, covering West Dean, East Dean, Singleton and Charlton and creating a wetlands at Lavant Wastewater Treatment Works and upgrading the works. The wetland at Lavant treats around 280 storm overflows per year.
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