Southern Water creates its own storm overflow task force
Southern Water has launched a task force to cut storm overflows by 80% by 2030.
The company said the task force will take a cross sector approach, work with local stakeholders, and focus on nature-based solutions such as ponds, wetlands, and soakaways as well as increasing storage. It noted: "The most efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly way to cut the use of storm overflows is to separate rain water from the sewer system. Work by Southern Water in the summer showed that by reducing the amount of rainwater run-off from roads and roofs entering the pipeline system by around 40% would mean an 80% reduction in storm overflows.”
The work of the task force will complement Southern’s £1.5bn investment programme, which the company said was “on track to reduce by 80% all pollution incidents by 2025”.
Chief executive Ian McAulay said the scale and complexity of the task “appears difficult today. However, just 20 years ago, the quality of our coastal waters needed to improve drastically. Today, reflecting significant investment driven by focused policy, all 83 of our regional bathing waters meet strict European Standards and a total of 78 are rated excellent or good.
"Delivering a similar transformation in the reduction of storm releases is the logical next step and we believe this can be achieved. We will play our part in leading and driving the collaboration and investment needed."
Southern has come under particular pressure among the water companies as the public’s attention has locked onto sewage pollution, in light of its £90m pollution fine this summer.
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