Multi-million-pound projects to cut storm overflows

Towns receiving the investment are Queenborough, Sittingbourne, Herne Bay, Faversham and Whitstable

Multi-million-pound projects to cut storm overflows have been arranged by Southern Water.

The projects will focus on preventing surface water entering the combined sewer system and will focus on separating it through finding any misconnected pipes where water ends up entering the network, the water company said.

The work is part of the wider £1.5bn Clean Rivers and Seas Plan that sets out how the company will reduce storm overflows over the next ten years, learning from previous schemes in Kent, Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

The towns receiving the investment are Queenborough, Sittingbourne, Herne Bay, Faversham and Whitstable.

Works include creating a new surface water line, sealing out ground water infiltration and bringing additional storage and more sustainable drains online.

Angus Cramp, programme delivery lead at Southern Water, said: "We're really excited to be expanding the work we've been doing in Kent to reduce storm overflows to a number of new towns.

"We're going to be implementing a mixture of nature-based and engineering solutions that will help make a real difference in helping to create cleaner rivers and seas in these areas."