More than £1m spent on protecting Lavant valley

Southern Water is undertaking £1m worth of improvement works in the Lavant Valley in a bid to prevent sewage contaminating the streets when there is heavy rain.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Dec 2015, 17:02 BST

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Improvements to the sewer network in the Lavant Valley will reduce the need to pump wastewater, heavily diluted by groundwater, from the sewers during extreme weather events SUS-151214-143541001Improvements to the sewer network in the Lavant Valley will reduce the need to pump wastewater, heavily diluted by groundwater, from the sewers during extreme weather events SUS-151214-143541001
Improvements to the sewer network in the Lavant Valley will reduce the need to pump wastewater, heavily diluted by groundwater, from the sewers during extreme weather events SUS-151214-143541001

The company has invested some £12m over the past two years to survey and seal the sewers in 60 towns and villages prone to groundwater flooding, with more than £1 million invested in improvements in Lavant alone.

Southern Water’s director of operations Phil Barker said: “Of course, the performance of any sewer system can never be guaranteed due to ground movements, the invasion of tree roots and the like but we are confident that, after such a significant investment, the performance of the Lavant Valley sewer network will have improved considerably should the winter that is nearly upon us prove to be wetter than usual.

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“Naturally, we are hoping for a drier than usual winter during 2015/16, but if the elements conspire against us we’re confident that our ongoing investment in the sewer system will again stand us and our customers in good stead.”

As a result of continual rain, groundwater flooding can affect the sewer network.

Sewer manhole covers pop up and toilets back up, potentially causing releases of sewage into streets, gardens and properties.

In the Lavant Valley Southern Water has surveyed nearly seven kilometres of sewer pipes, drains and manholes, identifying where leaks were allowing groundwater into the system when the water table is high.

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Later in the month Southern Water will also carry out work in Singleton and Charlton.

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