Hopes £3m investment can stop flooding in villages

Southern Water is investing £3.3m in its sewage network north of Chichester to stop future flooding incidents

Two villages in West Sussex are having more than £3m of investment into their sewage network after years of flooding in the area.

Residents in Charlton and Singleton, north of Chichester, claim they have had issues for 30 years with pipes being overloaded which has led to sewage spills.

Southern Water was previously using tankers to prevent flooding – but has now invested £3.3m to seal the pipes with a plastic lining to prevent groundwater overloading the network.

The company said groundwater seeping into the network could cause too much pressure for its pumping stations towards Chichester Harbour, which caused sewage releases in rivers.

Joff Edevane, pathfinder delivery lead for wetlands and harbours at Southern Water, said the ground in the area was mostly chalk which "acts as a sponge", collecting water for months.

"We have found that basically this groundwater is seeping into the joints of our pipes. We're sealing those joints to stop the groundwater going in," he told BBC Radio Sussex.

"The groundwater causes lots of issues for residents, it can flood their properties in extreme circumstances and can mean they can't flush their loo.

"We've always had these problems with groundwater flow, but the focus from customers is much more on addressing that now. It never used to be in the past, people are much more environmentally aware and there's more pressure from the Environment Agency to reduce these storm overflows."

The work started in January and is part of more than 8km (4.9 miles) of pipe relining by Southern Water in the Lavant Valley. There was also a similar £1.1m scheme in the neighbouring village of East Dean last year.

Deborah Harwood, chair of Singleton Parish Council, said the flooding was "relentless" in the past.

The Fox Goes Free pub said it has lost trade as a result of flooding in the past

"Now the work is being done, it's extraordinary. They're doing the work and doing every household," she added.

Kristian Brown, general manager at The Fox Goes Free pub, said: "We've had times where occasionally the water has backed up out the front of the pub and occasionally the loos and the carpeted areas. When it starts to rain, you're mindful of the fact you're possibly going to end up with a problem.

"Now the work is being done, we're hopeful it's going to be sorted going forwards."