Southern Water has been working to tackle two separate pollution incidents in the last week.

The water company has been investigating a diesel leak from its wastewater treatment works at Swalecliffe, Kent - clean up of the local Swalecliffe Brook are ongoing.

Southern Water said it had been working closely with the Environment Agency, with specialist teams brought in to help it carry out a full clean-up operation.

The utility has also held discussions with Natural England to ensure the clean-up has a minimal impact on the area and been liaising with the local council, which has put up signs advising people not to go into the water.

Southern Water has also had to undertake repairs at its Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works following an unexplained total power failure on 29^th July which resulted in untreated wastewater being released via its sea outfall. The water company teams worked around the clock and in very difficult conditions to restore the site on the same day. No untreated wastewater has been released since then.

It is continuing to liaise with the local council, the Environment Agency, speak with beach-goers and take samples from the site to assess any impact.

Commenting on the failure, Southern Water said:

“The power failure was unforeseeable but no spill is acceptable to our customers or to us.”