Southern Water: Sewage
Commons · Question 28674 · Tabled 10 Sep 2026 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Official record
Answered 15 Sep 2026
Question
Asked by Barry Gardiner
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what level of rainfall above which a water company such as Southern Water has been permitted by the Environment Agency to discharge storm sewage.
Answer
Answered by Emma Hardy, 15 Sep 2026
There is no fixed rainfall threshold for a storm overflow to discharge. Storm overflows may only operate as permitted, with compliance assessed case-by-case against site-specific rainfall, flow and network conditions.