The village of St Mary Bourne, a hamlet near Andover, will receive £5m of the total £11m package to seal sewer sections and prevent groundwater forcing its way into pipes when water tables rise. Penton Mewsey and Appleshaw share £3.5m to line more than 15km of sewers, while Goodworth Clatford is allocated £2m for similar work. These are the largest single allocations in Southern Water’s 20-year history.
George Taylor, director of wastewater operations at Southern Water, said the company had underestimated the impact of last winter’s sustained rainfall on chalk aquifers that act as natural sponges across the region. “We saw water tables stay dangerously high for weeks, pushing groundwater into sewer pipes and manholes long after storms ended,” Taylor told reporters. “That led to repeated flooding and months of disruption for residents.”
Key Points
- ✅ £5m ring-fenced for St Mary Bourne to seal critical sewer stretches
- ⚡ £3.5m upgrades cover over 15km of sewer lines in Penton Mewsey and Appleshaw
- 💡 £2m allocated to Goodworth Clatford for targeted lining work
Last winter’s rainfall set records across southern England, with groundwater levels in Hampshire’s chalk aquifers reaching peaks not seen since the 1960s. The Environment Agency confirmed that sustained high water tables persisted for eight consecutive weeks, far exceeding the seasonal average of three weeks. Southern Water’s sewer network, built primarily during the Victorian era, was not designed to handle such prolonged saturation, leading to repeated overflows and property flooding.
| Village | Allocation | Work Scope |
|---|---|---|
| St Mary Bourne | £5m | Seal critical sewer sections |
| Penton Mewsey & Appleshaw | £3.5m | Line 15km of sewers |
| Goodworth Clatford | £2m | Targeted lining upgrades |
Taylor acknowledged that Southern Water had been slow to respond to early warnings from hydrologists and local councils. “We should have acted sooner,” he said. “This investment is our first step toward long-term resilience.” Engineers will begin work in October, aiming to complete sealing and lining by March 2025. The upgrades will reduce groundwater infiltration by up to 40% during peak saturation events, according to internal modelling shared with the regulator.
💡 Pro Tip
Check the Southern Water flood-risk map before buying or renting property in Hampshire. Areas with chalk aquifers show prolonged water-table elevation, increasing sewer flood risk even in dry spells.
The scale of the investment has drawn cautious approval from local councils, but some councillors question whether £11m is enough. Hampshire County Council’s cabinet member for climate resilience, Cllr James Walmsley, said: “We welcome every pound spent on flood defence, but the reality is that climate change is accelerating. We need a rolling 10-year programme, not a one-off cash injection.” Southern Water insists the programme is sustainable, with future phases already in planning to cover another 30km of sewers across north Hampshire by 2027.
📋 By The Numbers
- 8 weeks — Duration of record-high groundwater levels in Hampshire last winter
- 40% — Projected reduction in groundwater infiltration after upgrades
- 1960s — Last time chalk aquifers in Hampshire hit comparable saturation levels
Environmental groups have welcomed the upgrades but warn that sealing sewers alone will not solve the broader issue of groundwater flooding. “Chalk aquifers are vital for drinking water supplies,” said Emma Carter, conservation manager at the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. “We need to balance flood defence with protecting these natural systems.” Southern Water says it is working with the trust on sustainable drainage schemes to complement the sewer upgrades.