A £105 million investment by Anglian Water to improve Southend’s sewage and flooding systems is set to commence within weeks, following a pivotal meeting at the latest Southend Water Summit.
The large-scale project aims to address the city’s persistent flooding issues and prevent sewage spills into the Thames Estuary, a problem that resulted in 400 pollution incidents in 2023 alone.
Community concern drives action at Southend Water Summit
The Southend Water Summit, which continues to grow in importance and attendance, saw a gathering of local politicians, campaigners, seafront business owners, and Anglian Water representatives. The summit has become a critical platform for addressing water quality issues that have increasingly concerned Southend residents.
The event was attended by Southend East and Rochford MP Bayo Alaba, Southend West and Leigh MP David Burton-Sampson, the Mayor of Southend, several City Council members, and representatives from local seafront businesses. Among them was Mr. Richardson of Happidrome Arcade, who raised concerns about the economic impact of frequent flooding on local businesses.
“The seafront esplanade is now designated as a flood plain by insurance companies,” said Mr. Richardson. “This could increase the pressure on seafront businesses, leading to potential closures and considerable loss to our local economy.”
Major infrastructure overhaul planned to combat sewage spills and flooding
Anglian Water’s £105 million investment will be used to eliminate storm overflows, which currently cause untreated sewage to be discharged into the Thames Estuary when the outdated Victorian drainage system becomes overwhelmed by rainwater. The initial phase of work will focus on surface water management and improving drainage systems in known flooding hotspots such as Thorpe Hall Avenue and along the seafront.
Grant Tuffs, Anglian Water’s regional engagement officer, explained that the infrastructure overhaul would span five years, with completion expected by 2030. Future phases may involve separating sewage and rainwater systems to prevent overflows and upgrading drainage in vulnerable areas.
“The planned improvements will be transformative for Southend,” Tuffs said. “We’re committed to working with local stakeholders to ensure the city’s waters are safe and clean.”
Addressing water quality concerns and environmental impacts
A key area of concern highlighted at the summit was the decline in water quality at local beaches, which recently led to Westcliff Bay Beach losing its Blue Flag status due to high levels of E.Coli. The Environment Agency reported that test results for E.Coli taken at Westcliff were lost, preventing analysis to determine whether the contamination originated from human, animal, or bird sources.
Anglian Water has pledged to work with Southend City Council to conduct year-round water quality testing, although testing will be suspended from October 2025 to April 2026 due to unspecified health and safety concerns.
Local MP David Burton-Sampson expressed his commitment to restoring water quality, stating: “We all want the same thing, and that’s to make Southend’s waters fit to bathe in every day of the year. It’s an achievement to bring everyone together at these summits, but the real achievement will be when we can congratulate our partners on the great job they’re doing.”
Multi-faceted approach to flood prevention and environmental improvements
Anglian Water’s strategy includes installing new rainwater storage tanks in key locations, improving drainage systems in Thorpe Hall Avenue, and implementing nature-based solutions under the Advanced WINEP (A-WINEP) scheme. The project also features the creation of “pocket parks”—small green spaces designed to improve rainwater capture and enhance community areas.
Other planned improvements include upgrading monitoring systems at six sites and building new pumping stations to manage excess water flow. Anglian Water also revealed they had installed Event Duration Monitors on all storm overflows ahead of schedule to better track pollution incidents.
Political backing and community involvement
Bayo Alaba, who organized the event at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club, emphasized the importance of community engagement in addressing Southend’s water issues. “Today’s water quality summit was really productive,” he said. “We wanted to ensure the entire city is represented, especially areas like Thorpe that are significantly impacted by flooding.”
The water summit series began in 2023 in response to growing public concern over sewage spills and environmental pollution. With continued political support and collaboration between local stakeholders and Anglian Water, the initiative aims to make long-term improvements to Southend’s water quality and infrastructure.
A commitment to Southend’s future
As Southend faces increasing environmental challenges, the £105 million investment by Anglian Water represents a significant commitment to safeguarding the city’s coastline and infrastructure. The project is not only about upgrading ageing sewage systems but also about enhancing community resilience against flooding and ensuring cleaner waters for future generations.
Southend’s MPs and Anglian Water have pledged to maintain transparency and public engagement as the project progresses, with future water summits planned to keep residents informed and involved.