Alternative to pollution worse

It is easy to criticise Southern Water and sometimes justified, but the recent sewage discharges to sea highlight a long-standing problem that pre-dates Southern Water’s very existence.

Fifty-plus years ago as a young surveyor, I was surveying properties in Essex that had combined drains where the rainwater from the roofs went into the same drains as the foul sewage from the toilet, sink, etc.

It was recognised then that this diluted the sewage at the sewage works and that made the anaerobic digestion of the sewage less effective; it also meant that after heavy rain excess flows of rainwater could overwhelm the capacity of the sewage works meaning that either flow-in had to be contained with the sewers backing up, or flows had to be released to sea via long outfall pipes.

The council I worked for had a programme of separating surface water and foul flows from houses to alleviate the problem. It was a big task. Combined drains were still being used well into the 20th century and in areas of older housing - Thanet is one, Herne Bay and Whitstable two more. There must be thousands of properties with combined drains feeding rainwater into the foul sewers.

Following intense storms, this problem is obviously magnified. With the sewage works overwhelmed, what is Southern Water to do - release to sea or back-up the sewers?

Release to sea is obviously of concern but the alternative is manholes popping open and sewage pouring out - it’s not much of a choice is it?

Bob Britnell

Orchard Close, Canterbury

A recent protest held in Whitstable over Southern Water sewage releases into the sea