South West Water is set to begin a new phase of work in Lyme Regis to help reduce the use of storm overflows and improve local water quality by removing rainwater from the wastewater network.
The work, which will take place on Talbot Road, Sidmouth Road, Colway Lane and Clappentail Lane, forms part of South West Water's wider investment programme in Lyme Regis to improve water quality in local rivers and the sea.
Like many towns across the UK, parts of Lyme Regis are served by combined sewers, which carry both wastewater and rainwater. During periods of heavy rainfall, this can increase pressure on the network and reduce the capacity available to carry and treat wastewater.
By removing rainwater from the wastewater system, the scheme will help create additional capacity within the network, reducing pressure during wet weather and helping to reduce storm overflows and improve local water quality.
South West Water’s teams will install new pipework and connect existing road gullies to the new drainage network, helping to ensure rainwater is carried away separately from wastewater.
The work marks the latest stage in South West Water's investment programme in Lyme Regis.
Alongside the surface water separation works, the company is building three new storm storage tanks in the area which will provide an additional 670,000 litres of storage capacity, helping to reduce reliance on storm overflows and support improvements to river and bathing water quality.
The wider programme is due to be completed by March 2027 and forms part of South West Water's £760 million investment over the next four years to improve water quality across the region.
This work will see the company become the first water company to meet the Government's target of achieving fewer than 10 spills per overflow, per year, by 2040, a decade ahead of target.
Kakha Tatelishvili, Programme Manager at South West Water, said: "While improvements like these are not always visible once complete, they will play an important role in helping us to build a more resilient network, reduce pressure on the wastewater system and protect water quality in Lyme Regis.
"We'd like to thank local residents and businesses for their patience while we carry out these works."
South West Water will work closely with residents, businesses and local stakeholders throughout the project and will make every effort to minimise disruption while work is carried out.
For more information about the work South West Water is doing in Lyme Regis visit Lyme Regis | Project & Investments | South West Water