MORE than 1,000 homes on the Isle of Wight could help play their part in reducing storm overflows as Southern Water expands its roll-out of water butts.

The water provider will offer customers in Gurnard a free water butt following a successful trial in Havenstreet last year.

The Havenstreet trial resulted in the local overflow going six months without releasing, despite a series of heavy storms.

Part of six ‘pathfinder projects’, set up by the Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force in partnership with IW Council, Environment Agency and Island Roads, the initiative will aim to reduce storm overflows.

Isle of Wight County Press: Sewage pollution protesters at Gurnard Bay in October 2022Sewage pollution protesters at Gurnard Bay in October 2022 (Image: Tim Butt)

Each pathfinder looks at different challenges to overcoming the root of storm overflows, which Southern Water says is primarily rainwater overloading the system or groundwater infiltrations.

Over the next three months, Southern Water will be visiting all eligible properties in Gurnard to install slow-drain water butts free-of-charge, after finding 1,000 homes in Northwood and Gurnard that have their roof drainage connected to the foul sewer.

This means that rainwater goes down the drain rather than to the environment.

Keith Herbert, pathfinder lead, said: “We are committed to reducing the use of storm overflows, the use of them is no longer acceptable, and we are taking the lead in ending this practice.

“More than a third of the water in our sewers comes from rainwater running off roofs. This causes the sewer to become overwhelmed during heavy rain.

“What we want to do is ‘slow the flow’ of the rainwater reaching the sewer by installing slow-drain water butts at eligible households and divert rainwater pipes onto planters at larger commercial buildings.

“This work complements our substantial investment programme and work with the Isle of Wight Council to manage highway drainage.”