Southern Water has seen 70% reduction in discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) where water butts have been distributed to nearby households.
The company is replicating the success of the scheme on the Isle of Wight with a similar rollout in Kent to reduce the reliance on storm overflows.
It will install more than 1,000 free butts in Whitstable to control the amount of surface water reaching the ground during periods of heavy rainfall. The programme will offer butts to households as part of a series of innovations Southern is trialling to reduce pressure on sewer networks.
Jonathan Yates, delivery leader, said: “By controlling the amount of rainfall hitting the ground at any one time, we can slow the flow of surface water into our sewer network – and in turn reduce the need for storm overflows.”
Plans involve nature-based solutions and traditional approaches to prevent rainwater from entering wastewater networks in three areas that have complex challenges such as higher volume of CSO spills or local wastewater treatment issues. Southern has tailored plans for North Kent, South Downs, and The Solent Isle of Wight area.
Work in Whitstable also includes sustainable drainage systems and improving wastewater treatment works at Swalecliffe as part of efforts to address the town’s misconnected surface water pipes that add strain to the system.
Southern has embarked on the digitisation of its sewer networks as it works to optimise wastewater asset performance to cut pollution incidents across its region.
The company reported being on-track to exceed the target set by the Department for environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) of 20 permitted spills by 2025.