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01/09/2006
Sewer flood warning as heavy rain is forecast
The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) has urged water companies to prepare for potential sewer flooding as more heavy rain is forecast across England and Wales.
The CCWater said that although sewer flooding is rare and the risk heavily localised, it probably represented the worst service failure than can happen to water and sewerage consumers.
Sewer flooding is caused by one of two main factors – sewers that are overloaded after severe storms or blockages within the sewerage system itself.
Dame Yve Buckland, CCWater chairperson said: Sewer flooding is a social problem affecting people's homes, not just a failure of the sewerage system. Although sewer flooding in the home is restricted to a few thousand homes in England and Wales, it is incredibly distressing for the unlucky few who experience it.
“Downpours at the end of the summer are a known trigger for sewer flooding. The system can silt up during dry spells and overflow in response to unusually heavy rainfall.”
Dame Yve said water and sewerage companies should be prepared to respond rapidly to severe flooding incidents in order to minimise distress, while local authority planners should also carefully consider any developments in areas prone to flooding and continued investment in local flood defences.
Dame Yve added: “Thankfully, the amount of investment allocated to tackling sewer flooding has increased over the last two years, so the scale of the problem across the country is decreasing, with some exceptions. But we must not drop our guard. Sewer flooding is acceptable to no-one and for as long as it continues to affect a few thousand consumers, investment must continue in reducing the number of cases.”
The CCWater said that consumers could help avoid sewer flooding by binning nappies instead of trying to flush them, by not disposing of fat down sinks and reporting any blockages.
Other items which should not be thrown down the drain include: syringes, cotton buds, plastic wrapping and items of clothing.
(KMcA/SP)
The CCWater said that although sewer flooding is rare and the risk heavily localised, it probably represented the worst service failure than can happen to water and sewerage consumers.
Sewer flooding is caused by one of two main factors – sewers that are overloaded after severe storms or blockages within the sewerage system itself.
Dame Yve Buckland, CCWater chairperson said: Sewer flooding is a social problem affecting people's homes, not just a failure of the sewerage system. Although sewer flooding in the home is restricted to a few thousand homes in England and Wales, it is incredibly distressing for the unlucky few who experience it.
“Downpours at the end of the summer are a known trigger for sewer flooding. The system can silt up during dry spells and overflow in response to unusually heavy rainfall.”
Dame Yve said water and sewerage companies should be prepared to respond rapidly to severe flooding incidents in order to minimise distress, while local authority planners should also carefully consider any developments in areas prone to flooding and continued investment in local flood defences.
Dame Yve added: “Thankfully, the amount of investment allocated to tackling sewer flooding has increased over the last two years, so the scale of the problem across the country is decreasing, with some exceptions. But we must not drop our guard. Sewer flooding is acceptable to no-one and for as long as it continues to affect a few thousand consumers, investment must continue in reducing the number of cases.”
The CCWater said that consumers could help avoid sewer flooding by binning nappies instead of trying to flush them, by not disposing of fat down sinks and reporting any blockages.
Other items which should not be thrown down the drain include: syringes, cotton buds, plastic wrapping and items of clothing.
(KMcA/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A fine dry days weather with sunshine quite widespread, particularly from mid-morning. Temperatures best across southern districts. North to northwesy breezes occasionally freshening around the coasts. Maximum temperature 15 °C.Tonight:Most dry with good clear spells bringing a rural frost in the south for some. Cloudier around northern coasts where the odd light shower may develop. Northerly breezes persisting. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
