A brand new wetlands scheme in a West Sussex area will help Southern Water in its efforts to reduce storm overflows into Chichester Harbour and improve water quality.

The project, involving the planting of more than 1,500 reed plants, will be completed in the next few weeks on Lavant Wastewater Treatment Works.

Creation of wetlands sites is one of a number of nature-based solutions being rolled out by Southern Water to tackle storm overflows, as part of a major multi-million pound 2-year programme announced on Monday.

Following successful small-scale trials of tactics to slow the flow of surface and groundwater into the sewer system, including sustainable drainage schemes and improvements to our existing network, these are now being scaled up in three areas:

• The South Downs and the Harbours
• Solent – Isle of Wight
• The North Kent Coast and the East.

The company is also supporting a new management role with the RSPB to restore nature across the ‘Three Harbours’ area.