Sewage Discharge into West Sussex Beaches Following Heavy Rainfall

Recent heavy rainfall has caused Southern Water to release storm overflows into the sea at Southwick, Littlehampton, and Felpham beaches in Sussex.

The overflows occur when stormy weather overwhelms the combined sewer and drainage systems prevalent across Sussex. In response, Southern Water operates these overflows to mitigate the risk of flooding. However, this has resulted in significant volumes of water mixed with sewage being pumped into coastal waters.

The environmental charity, Surfers Against Sewage, has criticised these practices, highlighting the risk to public health, particularly to those engaging in water sports and swimming.

In response, Southern Water has acknowledged the need for improvements to their sewage handling systems. A spokesperson for the company explained they are investing £3 billion in infrastructure upgrades between 2020 and 2025, aiming to reduce reliance on storm overflows.