Southern Water announce £11m investment to protect Hampshire

The funding aims to limit the effects of groundwater flooding and strengthen the region's sewer network following a difficult groundwater season.

The funding will go towards parts of Hampshire in the north of the county.

George Taylor, director of wastewater operations at Southern Water, said: "We know just how difficult the last groundwater season was for communities across Hampshire, especially in places like St Mary Bourne where people experienced real disruption and concern about flooding.

"We’re sorry for the impact this had and recognise there were times we could have done more to support our customers."

Last winter saw prolonged, heavy rainfall push groundwater levels to extreme highs, causing significant strain across the sewer network.

The village of St Mary Bourne near Andover will receive £5m, with teams set to seal parts of the sewer network to prevent groundwater infiltration during future periods of high water tables.

Nearby areas are also set to benefit, with £3.5m allocated to Penton Mewsey and Appleshaw for sealing more than 15km of sewers, and a further £2m earmarked for Goodworth Clatford for similar upgrades.

Mr Taylor said: "We’ve listened and learned from that experience, and this investment is about taking practical action to better protect homes and communities in the future.

"By sealing and lining our sewers across Hampshire, we can reduce the amount of groundwater entering the network, helping to lower flood risk and improve resilience during prolonged wet weather."

Groundwater flooding is common in areas with chalk aquifers, which act as natural sponges, soaking up rain and releasing it slowly over time.

This raises the water table for weeks or months after heavy rain and can force water into sewer pipes and manholes, reducing network capacity and causing long-term disruption even after storms have passed.