Southern Water is investigating flood protection measures to help protect homes and gardens from flooding in the historic village of St Mary Bourne.

St Mary Bourne is located on a chalk aquifer and during the winter and spring the groundwater levels rise and can nearly reach ground level.

At these times, large amounts of groundwater can enter the public sewer system and overload the network and the pumping station. This can lead to local flooding through manholes and in homes as the wastewater backs up in the system.

During recent years, we have carried out extensive surveys and improvement works in the Hampshire village alongside our supplier, 4Delivery.

More than eight kilometres of sewers between St Mary Bourne Wastewater Pumping Station and Hurstbourne Tarrant have been cleaned and surveyed with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).

In addition, several kilometres of public sewers have been lined and leaking manholes have been sealed. Work has also been carried out to seal connections between the public section and household’s private drains.

We have also initiated a series of joint meetings between the company, Hampshire County Council, Basingstoke and Deane District Council, the Environment Agency and St Mary Bourne Parish Council to discuss the causes and issues of flooding in the village and work towards a long-term solution.