What we're doing
Starting in December 2025 South West Water will be installing a new storm storage tank in The Ham, once complete the new tank will provide 100,000 litres of storm water storage.
This will help to reduce storm overflow spills from The Ham Pumping Station and safeguard water quality at Sidmouth Town Beach, which has consistently received “Excellent” bathing water status.
To allow the work to take place safely, The Ham will be closed for recreational use from December 2025 until the works are completed, which is expected to be around June 2026.
Programme of works
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| October to December 2025 | Setting up the site – installing fencing, cabins, and welfare facilities. Trial holes to check existing services. |
| January to April 2026 | Building the new storm storage tank – digging, installing sheet piles, and constructing the concrete base and walls. |
| April 2026 to June 2026 | Completing the tank – installing pipework, covers, and connections. Backfilling and reinstating the area. |
| March to June 2026 | Electrical and mechanical work – installing cabling, testing, and commissioning the system. |
| June 2026 |
Removing the site compound and fencing. Reinstating topsoil and turfing the area. |
Works already completed
Phase 1: February to September 2024
We lined 251 metres of sewer, repaired the sewer in 14 locations, and repaired 7 manholes.
Phase 2: September to November 2024
We inspected long sections of sewer thought to be abandoned and filled them with grout to stop groundwater getting in.
Phase 3: November 2024 to April 2025
We lined 354 metres of sewer, repaired the sewer in 29 locations, and repaired 25 manholes.
Total repairs during this time:
• 8,475 metres of sewer inspected with CCTV
• 605 metres of sewer lined
• 43 locations repaired
• 32 manholes inspected and repaired
1. Infiltration
Infiltration is when surface water or groundwater enters our sewers in places it's not meant to (e.g. through manhole covers).
This means that a lot more wastewater enters the sewers and increases the risk of activating our storm overflows.
To stop infiltration we'll be lining, repairing and replacing our pipes and manhole covers in hotspot areas. We call this rehabilitation work.
2. Storm storage
Storm water is the number one cause of storm overflows. The huge rainfalls we're experiencing as climate change takes hold are overwhelming our sewers, meaning our storm tanks fill up faster and start overflowing before our pumps have chance to reduce the volume inside them.
We're hoping that our work to reduce infiltration will help reduce the amount of storm water entering our sewers.
But, we're also making sure there's enough storage to hold it all. That's why we're looking into building a brand new storm tank near The Ham.
3. Combined sewers
Combined sewers carry both foul sewage from homes and businesses and rainwater from roofs, paved areas and in some areas, run off from roads to the treatment works. Rainwater itself doesn’t need treatment before being released back into rivers, but where it enters a combined sewer network it uses valuable capacity and adds pressure to our pumps and storm tanks.
The best way to reduce this pressure is to separate foul and surface water flows. By building one sewer for foul sewage and another for rainwater, we can keep clean water out of the treatment process and release it safely back into rivers after passing through an oil interceptor. Customers can also play a big part by keeping rainwater out of combined sewers, for example through soakaways or other drainage solutions. Checking how your roof and driveway runoff is connected can make a difference. If none of your surface water drains to the public sewer, you may qualify for a lower bill and help ease pressure on the system during wet weather.
4. Our storm overflows
Following extensive investigations, the work we're doing in this scheme is expected to significantly reduce our reliance on the storm overflows in Sidmouth.
But, they will still play an important role in internal flood-prevention. That's why we're investing in their maintenance - upgrading their screens and relocating our monitoring chambers.
This work will help reduce the impact of overflows on the environment, and allow us to better monitor, check and maintain the overflows.