Support

Representation ID: 19496

Received: 24/02/2009

Respondent: Southern Water

Southern Water supports the comprehensive preferred policy direction for flood risk. In periods of flooding, surface water can inundate the public sewerage system thereby exceeding its capacity. The extra pressure can cause flows from the main sewer to surcharge up tributary sewers. As a result, properties may become flooded by foul sewage, even relatively remote from the flooded site.

We support the objectives of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) provided arrangements exist for the long term maintenance of them, so that their effectiveness is maintained in perpetuity. This is because such systems rely on facilities which are not adoptable by sewerage undertakers. Good management can avoid flooding and subsequent inundation of the foul sewerage system.