Southern Water plan to tackle sewage outfall crisis VIDEO

It is hoping to reduce the amount of sewage dumped into our waters by 80 per cent, mainly by tackling what goes through the Sandown Waste Treatment Works, which handles around 90 per cent of the Island’s waste water.

The company has been under fire for the amount of sewage that goes into Britain’s waterways and sea, so the County Press asked them exactly what the new plan would entail.

I spoke to Nick Mills, the head of Southern Water’s Storm Overflows Taskforce about what the Pathfinder project will mean for the Island.

He was keen to stress the plan was not just to build bigger tanks, as this would not solve the problem and would increase the company’s carbon footprint.

Read more:

• Gurnard and Cowes top of sewage outfall table.
• Government report finds improvement at Isle of Wight beaches
• England's polluted rivers table includes Solent data

Southern Water figures explaining importance of sustainable drainage.

Mr Mills said the first of the three stages was to study and understand the Island’s sewage system. This did not just involve its own pipes but lots of other factors including road gullies and water from roofs of buildings etc.

The second phase would be to work out how the company intervened.

And the third phase would be to implement a number of strategies, with the final option building the bigger tanks they are seeking to avoid.

Surface water is very much the villain of the piece in Southern Water’s eyes, with the majority of storm outfalls occurring when there has been heavy rainfall.

Sustainable drainage means looking at ways of delaying or diverting that water entering the main storm drains and causing the outflows.

Southern Water is hoping to eradicate scenes such as this at Shanklin two years ago.

Some of the initiatives they would look at running to reduce the surges are:

1. Introducing sustainable swales – areas of land next buildings where water can lie and soak away more slowly. This natural drainage has been trialled in White City, London with great success and good community engagement in a charity led project.
2. Trying to get developments of ten-plus homes to incorporate natural drainage and rain water harvesting.
3. Smart water butts. These don’t just store water in a dumb way, they can adjust to storm surges and release water slowly to allow for heavy downpours.
4. Permeable surfaces. These are driveways, hardstandings etc which allow water to soak through while still being able to hold a car’s weight.
5. Green roofs. These are already seen around the country but can hold rainwater and allow it to disperse more slowly. They can be used on public buildings and bus shelters.
6. Bio retention. This is the use of tree planting in street settings with water holding capability underneath.
7. Smart planters. These allow water to be held but also to run off if they become waterlogged.

Asked about the 2030 target for implementing the 80 per cent reduction, Mr Mills said he was confident the Isle of Wight would have a solution much earlier than that.

“In the study phase we will look at Fishbourne, Yarmouth, Bembridge and Cowes as test catchments (sewer systems).

“There are more spills in these areas so it makes sense to look at them first.”

The study will take place in the first half of the year with public meetings on the Island in September to explain what actions would be taken.

“I am confident we will make a difference to the Isle of Wight within two to three years.,” he said.

Mr Mills said partnerships were vital to make the Pathfinder work and although more or bigger holding tanks would be a last resort, infrastructure works could be looked at.

“We all need to work together to make this happen,” he said.

This week, Southern Water began to dismantle the unsightly overhead pipe that has blighted Appley seafront for the last year.