Barnham sewer upgrade to cut flooding risk in West Sussex

Southern Water has announced a £2.3 million investment to improve the sewer network in Barnham and surrounding areas south of Chichester.

The project aims to seal parts of the network to prevent excess groundwater from entering during wet weather, a persistent problem that increases the risk of flooding and storm overflows.

Glenn McCubbin, from Southern Water’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force, said: "This area has a long history of groundwater-related flooding, which puts real pressure on the sewer network during wet weather and beyond.

"By sealing sewers, investigating connections and working with our partners to manage water more sustainably, we can make a real difference for the community and help reduce the impact of storm overflows and help provide a resilient sewer system fit for the future."

The scheme follows similar work completed in villages near Chichester, where teams are working to seal 16km of sewer in East Dean, Charlton and Singleton.

Southern Water is currently carrying out work in West Dean.

A public drop-in event will be held at Barnham Community Hall on Yapton Road, on May 5, from 6.30pm to 8pm.

The event is designed to give residents the opportunity to learn more about the project and ask questions.

As part of the scheme, the company will conduct investigations across the area to identify further improvements.

This will include checking for incorrect domestic connections into surface water sewers, assessing options for sustainable drainage and identifying other parts of the network that could benefit from upgrades.

Southern Water said it is working with local partners to develop long-term solutions that go beyond the sewer network.

The project is part of Southern Water’s wider £1.5 billion Clean Rivers and Seas Plan, which aims to reduce storm overflows across the region.