What we're doing
We have installed a 100,000-litre tank at The Ham in Sidmouth. This tank will capture excess flows during heavy rainfall, storing them until they can be fully treated. This will help reduce storm overflow spills from The Ham Pumping Station and protect water quality at Sidmouth Town Beach, which has consistently been rated “Excellent” by the Environment Agency.
Further work is taking place to complete mechanical and electrical installation, commission the system and restore the site. The Ham will remain closed for recreational use while works are completed, and the area is expected to be reopened around June 2026.
Video updates
April 2026
Programme of works
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| October to December 2025 | Site setup and drilling trial holes to check existing services. |
| January to April 2026 | Building the new storm storage tank. This includes groundworks and structural works. |
| April to June 2026 | Finalising the tank structure and restoring the work area. |
| March to June 2026 | Electrical and mechanical installation and system commissioning. |
| June 2026 |
Removing the site compound and restoring the area. |
1. 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.
2. 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.