MP Bob Seely is urging West Wight residents to take up the offer of a free slow-drain water butt as part of a campaign to clean up the environment and reduce storm overflows. Mr Seely is currently distributing letters to residents in Freshwater, Totland and Yarmouth.
In his letter he said: “Working with others on the Island, we’ve persuaded Southern Water to make the Isle of Wight an example of national best practice for cleaning up the water environment.
“In total, the firm has allocated £230 million to the Island’s sewage network. Many of the schemes that will roll-out across the country will be trialled here first. We will see improvements first.
“We know that water butts are effective at reducing storm overflows. In 2022, a trial was conducted of slow-drain water butts in Havenstreet. After two-thirds of eligible residents accepted the butt, ‘spills’ from Havenstreet pumping station declined by 70 per cent.”
So far, slow-drain water butts have been installed in gardens in Cowes, East Cowes, Fishbourne, Gurnard, Northwood and Wootton.
Now, they will be offered to everyone with properties connected to the combined sewer system in Freshwater, Totland and Yarmouth. Engineers from Southern Water will knock on doors to offer a free butt and free installation. No visiting engineer will ask for money. They will also have ID.
The idea behind the slow-drain water butts is to collect and hold storm water for a period before releasing it gradually. This slows the flow of water into the sewer system during a storm and helps to reduce damaging storm overflows.
Mr Seely said: “If you’re a resident in the Freshwater, Totland and Yarmouth area and you are offered a free slow-drain water butt, please say yes. This is an opportunity for all of us to play our part and help reduce storm overflows into rivers and seas around the Island.
“The water butts are just one part of a plan that includes installing planters, redesigning road drainage, replumbing parts of the system as well as improving pumping stations across the Island.
“It’s all thanks to the Government’s 2021 Environment Act and Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan mandate that water companies must end the ecological harm caused by storm overflows.”
Southern Water will be holding a drop-in session for residents to answer questions and update on progress on Tuesday 19 March at the Isle of Wight Community Club in Cowes from 6-8pm.
