Scum foam at Langstone Harbour, Eastney
Published in the Portsmouth News on the 3rd September 2018
Story by Ben Fishwick
AN ENVIRONMENTAL campaigner has warned Southern Water must ‘keep pace’ to avoid pouring more sewage and stormwater into Langstone Harbour.
Ray Cobbett, chairman of the Havant branch of Friends of the Earth, spoke out after The News revealed the water utility firm is under investigation for possible breaches of its permit to discharge sewage into the harbour.
Southern pumps its containment tanks into the harbour after heavy rainfall as householders could face flooding in their homes.
But now Mr Cobbett has said with more homes being built, Southern must keep apace.
The firm said it has invested £50m in its system in recent years and will soon meet Portsmouth City Council over its demand for a new sewer line.
Mr Cobbett said: ‘Unfortunately this issue goes back at least 10 years. It does not look as if Southern Water are keeping pace with the effects this discharge is currently having.
‘But there is a real possibility it could get a lot worse with the 4,000 or 5,000 new homes which are going to be delivered as part of the local plan – and Southern Water are not giving us any reassurance.’
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