We take all customer feedback about the performance of our network very seriously and are committed to protecting the environment in which we operate – we are listening to the concerns being raised at this protest, and urge customers to continue to voice their points of view to support change.
Southern Water is committed to being open and transparent about wastewater releases, and our pollution reporting and online CSO release portal, Beachbuoy, are evidence of this.
With a near £2 billion spend on our infrastructure and environmental protection and enhancement, we are prioritising the needs of customers, protecting the environment and boosting local economies around our 700 miles of coastline.
Storm releases during intense periods of rainfall are made through long sea outfalls usually around 2km out to sea and are not raw sewage as many believe, but are often more than 95% rainwater. They are made for one reason, to protect customers’ homes, schools and businesses from flooding. This activity is tightly regulated by the Environment Agency.
We are working towards reducing our reliance on storm releases but there are huge challenges, from climate change which we know is going to increase the frequency of intense rainfall events and population growth.
We are pioneering a new approach – building more storm tank capacity where it will have an impact – but prioritising partnership working to prevent rain from reaching our systems through sustainable drainage, water gardens and major natural capital solutions such as enhanced and expanded wetlands.
We engage closely with local and national users groups, including Surfers Against Sewage which regularly attend meetings to discuss our Beachbuoy app and our current and future investment plans and delivery.
We welcome those involved with the protest to meet with us. To hear about our work, our investment and our commitment to improve service to our customers and discuss ways to work together to achieve a goal we share, to protect the environment.
Notes:
There are 83 designated bathing waters in our region. 58 are rated excellent and none below sufficient.
We have 367 wastewater treatment works, more than 3000 pumping stations and almost 40,000km of sewer network to serve our 4.6 million customers.
Read our response to public reports of sewage around Hayling Island on the weekend of the 9 October here.