Drone footage of a consented storm release into Langstone Harbour on 21 October has been widely circulated on social media and in the media.
The storm release filmed protected homes, businesses and other properties from the risk of flooding during an extended period of heavy rainfall during Storm Aurore in which 49mm of rain fell in just 48 hours, the equivalent of around half the average monthly rainfall for Portsmouth in October. It was a permitted release of storm water that has been wrongly described as ‘sewage’ - it comprised 96 per cent rainwater.
We want to reduce our use of stormwater releases because it is the right thing to do for our customers and the environment. The majority of water in the Budds Farm sewer system in a storm is rainwater, which is run off from roads and roofs.
Removing 43 per cent of rainfall run off from roads will reduce stormwater releases by 80 per cent. This is the most effective and environmentally beneficial way of reducing storm releases and the carbon footprint they create. Working with our regulators and partners, we are ready to design and deliver the necessary innovative solutions to achieve this by 2030.
The film highlights again importance of the amendment to the Environment Bill proposed by the Government, for water companies to deliver a reduction in discharges from storm overflows. We welcome the amendment because it is in line with our commitment to dramatically reduce pollution incidents and the use of storm overflows.