Calls for urgent improvements following flooding

Orla Finn says sewage water flows out of a manhole next to her house and directly into the River Grom

Residents in Kent whose drains have overflowed with raw sewage during prolonged wet weather are calling on Southern Water to make urgent improvements to the sewer system.

People living near the River Grom in Tunbridge Wells say local manholes have burst more than 30 times in the five years, flooding homes and contaminating the environment.

Heavy rain in September filled the basement of one property with floodwater more than 12in (30.4cm) deep, causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Southern Water said it was committed to putting an end to flooding incidents like these.

Resident Caroline Hutt says wastewater poured out of her toilet when the main sewer became overwhelmed

Local resident Caroline Hutt still had water in her basement six weeks after her home was flooded with a mixture of rainwater and raw sewage.

"It’s not been easy", says Ms Hutt, who is arranging a refurbishment with her insurer following the flooding on 22 September.

Fellow resident Orla Finn says sewage water also flows out of a manhole next to her house and directly into the River Grom.

"They [Southern Water] have to decontaminate the whole area and clean up all the wipes and toilet paper and everything else that comes out of the drain," she said.

Southern Water's investment

Southern Water said its £1.5bn plan for clean rivers and seas would help prevent surface water from entering and overloading sewers.

The company also agreed that that its network of pipes, pumping stations and treatment sites needed to be improved.

"That's why we are planning to spend more than £4bn over the next five years to upgrade this area of the business," a spokesperson said.

However, volunteers from Project Ripple Effect, who are concerned about the state of rivers, say the Grom is also being contaminated downstream.

A video filmed in September appeared to show rainwater mixed with untreated sewage gushing from another manhole and into the Grom.

Southern Water had said the manhole suffered root damage and teams were working on a long-term solution.