Southern Water is set to start work on a major new scheme designed to improve the sewer network and help reduce the use of storm overflows.
West Sussex villages near Chichester, including Barnham, Lidsey and the surrounding areas south of Chichester will benefit from a £2.3 million investment, focused on sealing parts of the sewer network to limit the amount of groundwater entering the system during wet weather.
Excess groundwater infiltration has been an ongoing issue and poses an increased risk of flooding and storm overflows across this part of West Sussex.
The work builds on similar projects already completed near Chichester where the water company is working to seal 16km of sewer in villages East Dean, Charlton and Singleton, with teams currently working in West Dean.
As part of the scheme, Southern Water teams will carry out a series of investigations across the area to identify any additional improvements that may be needed. This includes checking for incorrect domestic connections from properties into surface water sewers, identifying opportunities to introduce sustainable drainage solutions, and assessing parts of the network that could be optimised or upgraded.
The utility is also working closely with local partners to help reduce groundwater infiltration and manage water more effectively across the catchment, recognising that long-term solutions require collaboration beyond the sewer network alone. The work is part of Southern Water’s wider £1.5 billion Clean Rivers and Seas Plan to reduce storm overflows across its region.
Glenn McCubbin, from Southern Water’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force, said:
“This area has a long history of groundwater-related flooding, which puts real pressure on the sewer network during wet weather and beyond.
“By sealing sewers, investigating connections and working with our partners to manage water more sustainably, we can make a real difference for the community and help reduce the impact of storm overflows and help provide a resilient sewer system fit for the future.”