Southern Water has started its sixth pathfinder project to trial sustainable storm overflow solutions - the village of Fairlight has become home to innovative nature-based solutions aimed at reducing flood risk and storm overflow activity in the area.
The East Sussex community is Southern Water’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force’s sixth pathfinder project, aimed at trialling sustainable ways to reduce or slow the amount of rainwater entering and sometimes overwhelming the water company’s sewers after wet weather.
Currently, which such an event happens, heavily diluted flows made of up mostly rainwater may be released into the environment – in line with Environment Agency permits – so homes and communities are not flooded.
Southern Water said it is working hard to reduce their use - alongside green sustainable drainage schemes like water butts and raingardens, a number of innovative engineering approaches are also being deployed to optimise the network.
The work will also include working closely with East Sussex County Council to see how highways drainage can be improved by building gullies to reduce surface water run-off entering the combined sewer network.
Further longer-term plans for investment in the wider area is due to be announced later this summer.
Southern Water’s project lead, Jon Yates, said:
“We are excited to have a pathfinder in Fairlight. We are bringing our expertise and knowledge of engineering and the environment into a coordinated and talented team with the aim of improving water quality, reducing storm overflows, and improving the environment.
“We can only make these improvements if we continue to work together with customers, East Sussex County Council and businesses so this project can be collaborative and can make a real difference and reduce and prevent releases.”
Community partnerships are being driven by a steering group led by MP for Hastings and Rye, Sally-Ann Hart, and featuring councillors from East Sussex County Council and Rother District Council, with local residents invited to regular meetings to hear about progress and steer the project.
Southern Water’s other five pathfinder projects are on the Isle of Wight, the Pan Parishes area of Hampshire, and along Kent’s coastline in Whitstable, Deal and Margate.
In April this Southern Water published a Pathfinder update setting out further investment to accelerate the reduction in the use of storm overflows across the South East.
https://www.southernwater.co.uk/media/8742/6564_cso_report_apr23_v7.pdf
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.