Anglian Water is starting work this week on two New Year schemes that will help alleviate flooding in Lowestoft which represent a combined total £2.3 million of investment.
The water company started the preparation works just before Christmas for a £2 million six month project to reduce the risk of sewer flooding to homes, gardens and highways in the All Saints Road area.
A second, quarter of a million pound scheme is also about to start this week around Lake Lothing to prevent seawater getting into the sewer system during high tide, improving pumping power and drainage.
The two Anglian Water schemes are just some of the projects in the offing in partnership with Suffolk County Council and Waveney District Council as part of the wider strategy to reduce flooding in Lowestoft.
Anglian Water’s Flood Risk Manager, Jonathan Glerum, said:
“Responsibility for the drainage of a massive area like Lowestoft sits with many different organisations. The County Council, District Council Highways, Environment Agency, and Anglian Water, as well as private landowners each have responsibility for part of the drainage network, which is a huge spider’s web of pipes, pumps, watercourses, streams, outfalls and drainage points - all interconnected.
“As Lowestoft has suffered from tidal and storm flooding over the past few years, which has impacted different parts of the drainage system there needs to be a solid, joined up approach from all these partners to address flood risk. That’s why the Suffolk Flood Risk Management Partnership was created, of which Anglian Water is a member.
“The wider flood strategy for Lowestoft will see flood partners working together over the coming months. A new tidal barrier, sea walls and improvements to the Kirkley Stream are just some of the other schemes being discussed and planned by the Flood Partnership Group.
“Anglian Water is investing in upgrades, particularly where there have been problems in the past. Around All Saints Road is an area where customers have unfortunately been affected by sewer flooding, and this first £2 million scheme is specifically designed to address that.
“The Lake Lothing scheme will stop seawater getting into the sewer pipes, improving pumping power and drainage overall.”
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.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.