Storm overflow investment

How are we reducing the need for storm overflows?  

We can’t just remove storm overflows from our network as this would cause a flooding risk (and we’d need to find somewhere for all the rainwater to go). That’s why we’re looking at reducing the number of times they’re needed through a few different options.  

Creating somewhere to store the water

If we can find the right space, we might build a big tank to store more of the wastewater. Many of our overflows already have a big tank, but if we increase the size of this or build a new one, we will be able to hold more water back, so it doesn’t go through the overflow. The tank would then slowly flow back into our sewer network after the bad weather has passed.  

Getting rainwater out of our pipes

If we can find a suitable way to redirect rainwater out of our network, we’ll do it. This is a great option for the environment as rainwater doesn’t need to go through our wastewater treatment processes but we need to make sure it’s directed into a stream or river and doesn’t cause any flooding problems. We’re exploring sustainable drainage options so we can slow the flow of water using nature. This would mean we’d be able to hold the rainwater back and it would slowly be released into watercourses. 

Stopping extra water getting into our network when it shouldn’t be there 

Our sewer network can sometimes have water plumbed in, or naturally seeps in, that shouldn’t be there. We’ll take this out and make sure the water is flowing to where it should do.

Making some changes to how we operate 

It might be that we can make some changes to how we operate or invest in the wider sewer network and pumping stations that could reduce the need for the overflow to kick in to action.