Southern Water received approval from Defra for an additional £10m investment to reduce storm overflows.

This endorsement permits the expansion of the Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force, utilising nature-based and engineering solutions to address sewer overload caused by surface and groundwater.

The shareholder-funded sum, to be administered until spring 2025, supports multiple projects.

These include the expansion of optimisation initiatives, real-time digital wastewater catchment control, an extra surface water pathfinder catchment, a further groundwater infiltration reduction scheme for both private and public sewers, plus an expedited wetland construction programme benefiting Chichester Harbour.

The announcement follows last year's Clean Rivers and Seas Plan, which earmarked £1.5bn for curtailment of storm overflows from 2025 to 2035.

Southern Water’s Environment and Innovation Director, Nick Mills, said: "This additional funding will help us expand and accelerate our programme of work reducing the reliance on storm overflows. 

"It is really important that the Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force continues to ramp up its delivery of sustainable catchment solutions that make a real difference to communities and the environment."