North Kent and the East pathfinder projects
Deal, Kent
Why a pathfinder here?
Residents in this area have experienced chronic internal flooding to their properties over many years. As heavy rainfall events increase due to climate change, properties will continue to be at risk from flooding unless we tackle the amount of surface water that gets into the combined sewer system. In this area, we’ve identified and trailing different approaches to manage water flows. Southern Water, Deal’s MP, Kent County Council, Dover & District Council, and public representatives have formed a task force to collaboratively work together in the area (Deal Water Action Taskforce).
Stage of the project - In delivery
Technical and summary reports have been published, Kent County Council have upgraded gullies in Albert Road, we’ve updated the surface water sewer in Albert Road, and we’ve installed planters and smart water butts in four roads upstream to ‘slow the flow’ of water in the town. We are now working on measuring the early interventions, commissioning changes to Golf Road pumping station and evaluating other potential solutions in the area.
Timings
Project due to be complete by 2025.
Desired outcome
Significantly reduce the risk of flooding for residents previously affected in the area.
Plans on a page
Pathfinder East - Deal
Reports
Deal Pathfinder Summary Report May 2022
Deal Pathfinder Technical Report May 2022
Margate, Kent
Why a pathfinder here?
The catchment of Margate has a significant combined sewer system, which gets overwhelmed during heavy rainfall. This results in storm overflow activation to prevent widespread flooding; it can also stress the assets, lead to pumping failures and further releases of wastewater in more local coastal waters which has resulted in beach closures. This project is still in the early stages but our work in the area will seek to understand the source of all the water in the catchment with a view of removing enough to reduce the stress on pumping stations and storm overflows.
Stage of the project - In delivery
Technical and summary reports have been published, working with 10 schools in Margate to install raingarden planters and sustainable drainage features to reduce surface water getting into the network, upgrading pumps and building resilience at Margate and Broadstairs pumping stations, and measuring the impact of the SuDS design at George V Park. Exploring slow the flow measures in the area and how to work with community groups to achieve this.
Timings
Project due to be complete by 2025.
Desired outcome
Via strong partnerships, deliver interventions that significantly reduce storm releases from 2020 baseline data.
Reports
Margate Pathfinder Summary Report June 2022
Margate Pathfinder Technical Report June 2022
Whitstable (Swalecliffe), Kent
Why a pathfinder here?
Whitstable has a predominately separated sewer system, but there is still significant excess water in the network, resulting in numerous permitted storm overflows within the catchment. We are using an holistic approach to understand the root causes and better manage water flows, identifying options to reduce peak loading onto Swalecliffe treatment works and other parts of the network. We’re also investigating if there are other causes of additional flow into the wastewater sewers for example through misconnections of surface water into the foul sewer and overland flows entering the sewer system.
Stage of the project - In delivery
Technical and summary reports have been published, we are working with the Environment Agency to amend the permit at Swalecliffe to more effectively use storm capacity onsite, we are working with community groups to install slow the flow measures, we are workign with Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council on a residential sustainable drainage solution (SuDS) scheme and finding misconnections. We’ve installed additional flow monitoring at key parts of the network. We’re currently exploring further initiatives in the area.
Timings
Project due to be complete by 2025.
Desired outcome
Deliver interventions that significantly reduces storm releases from 2020 baseline data.
Plans on a page
Pathfinder East - Whitstable
Reports
Swalecliffe Pathfinder Summary Report July 2022
Swalecliffe Pathfinder Technical Report July 2022
Case Studies
Upgrading the infrastructure to slow the flow in Whitstable
Fairlight, East Sussex
Why a pathfinder here?
The Fairlight catchment, located in East Sussex, was specifically chosen as a Pathfinder due to current and historical occurrences of flooding and current storm overflow performance within the area. The original Fairlight sewer network is acting as a combined sewer with foul water and surface water connecting into the sewerage network. Over time, the village has developed extensively, and the system now experiences significant excess water in the network, resulting in numerous storm overflow discharges and property flooding. This catchment was selected so that, by using a holistic catchment approach to understanding and managing flows, we can identify options to reduce the flooding and pollution incidents and the storm loading on the treatment works.
Stage of the project - Awaiting delivery to start
Technical report published and bringing community groups/representatives together to scope out interventions in the area. Hoping to start early ‘no regret’ low risk interventions, before tackling the longer-term activities that we will look to deliver with our partners.
Timings
Initial interventions due to begin in 2023.
Desired outcome
Via strong partnerships, we want to deliver interventions and solutions that significantly reduce the risk of flooding for residents and releases from storm overflows into the environment.
Plans on a page
Pathfinder East - Fairlight
Reports
Fairlight Pathfinder Technical Report December 2022