No confidence in Southern Water. Sandown Town Council has unanimously declared it has no confidence in Southern Water's management of its current and proposed operations in the town, following mounting concerns over sewage discharges, bathing water quality, odour problems, and community engagement. The resolution was passed at a council meeting on Monday, after a motion was brought forward in response to residents' concerns. Councillors said the decision was intended not only as a statement of dissatisfaction, but also as a framework for securing improvements, accountability, and the restoration of public trust. Among the key concerns raised were sewage discharges into Sandown Bay. Southern Water data shows storm overflows from the town's two sea outfall pipes discharged for almost 1,621 hours during 2025, while figures presented to councillors indicated discharges rose significantly in 2024. Members warned the situation could affect bathing water quality, public health, and the environment. Councillors also highlighted the decline in Sandown's bathing water classification from Excellent to Good, alongside reports that some residents are choosing not to swim because of concerns about water quality. The authority further raised concerns over persistent odour complaints, linked to Southern Water's treatment works. Residents have reported unpleasant smells in a variety of weather conditions, with councillors questioning whether sufficient action has been taken to resolve the issue permanently. Concerns were also reiterated over Southern Water's proposed wastewater recycling plant, with councillors seeking stronger assurances about the operation of any future facility. The council will review progress after three months and reconsider its position within six months. It is requesting monthly reports from Southern Water covering storm overflows, water quality, odour incidents, and progress on the proposed recycling plant. Southern Water has confirmed it is willing to provide the reports requested.

Long Furlong: Major road reopens following two-week closure. Published 16th Oct 2026, 14:06 BST Updated 16th Oct 2026, 16:05 BST Long Furlong, a major road near Worthing, has reopened following a two-week closure. The route was closed in both directions on Friday, October 2, due to a burst water main. During work to fix the pipe, Southern Water crews discovered a leaking air valve, delaying progress 'temporarily'. The closure was extended again after further investigations found the burst pipe 'caused more extensive damage than initially identified', according to Southern Water. You May Like In addition to the road, the burst caused damage to the nearby footway, verge, and a drain. In an update shared on Thursday, October 8, a spokesperson for the water supplier said: "We've been working closely with West Sussex Highways to agree the best repair solution. Although this drainage asset would not normally be maintained by us, we've agreed to carry out the necessary repairs to help restore the area as quickly as possible. "These additional repairs are expected to continue until Sunday (October 11), after which we can begin the final road reinstatement works. As a result, Long Furlong will need to remain closed for longer than originally planned." The road reopened on Friday (October 16) afternoon, according to Southern Water. The company said: "We are pleased to confirm that Long Furlong has now reopened to traffic following the successful completion of repair and reinstatement works. "We would like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience and understanding throughout these works. We recognise the disruption the road closure has caused and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience experienced."

How Southern Water and Lightsonic are tackling water losses amid growing UK drought risks. - Content Director Published: Oct 13, 2026 Southern Water is deploying Lightsonic's fibre optic leak detection technology to reduce water losses, strengthen infrastructure resilience and protect supplies across southern England, as ageing water networks and worsening drought conditions increase pressure on the UK's water industry. Southern Water targets leakage amid growing drought pressures. Southern Water has announced plans to deploy technology developed by UK-based Lightsonic to identify and reduce leaks across its drinking water network. The initiative will use existing telecommunications fibre optic infrastructure operated by Openreach to monitor water pipelines, helping maintenance teams locate leaks more quickly and reduce water losses. The deployment comes amid increasing pressure on water resources across England, with almost three-quarters of the country experiencing drought conditions at the time of the announcement, according to figures cited from the Environment Agency and Defra. Southern England is among the country's most water-stressed regions, creating challenges for utilities seeking to maintain reliable supplies while adapting to changing climate conditions. It is believed approximately 2.6 billion litres of water are lost through leakage across England's water network every day. Ageing infrastructure adds to the challenge, with 60 per cent of water mains in England more than 45 years old and 13 per cent exceeding 100 years. Fibre optic technology enables continuous leak detection. Lightsonic's technology converts existing telecommunications fibre optic cables running alongside water pipes into acoustic sensors. These sensors detect sound and vibration associated with leaks, enabling water companies to identify potential problems and determine their locations. By using Openreach's existing fibre network, the technology can provide continuous monitoring without requiring utilities to install a separate network of sensors. Lightsonic said its technology has already helped save more than four million litres of water per day across 650 kilometres of the UK's water network. The company also claims its approach enables maintenance technicians to identify four times as many leaks while spending fewer hours in the field. Its system can categorise leaks according to severity, allowing utilities to prioritise repairs and direct maintenance resources towards the most significant losses. Southern Water seeks to strengthen drought resilience. Southern Water selected Lightsonic following its initial work with Affinity Water and Openreach, which demonstrated the technology's potential to reduce leakage. The utility intends to use the system to support its leakage reduction programme and help meet Ofwat's 2030 targets. Reducing losses is also expected to support Southern Water's wider drought resilience strategy by protecting available supplies and easing pressure on reservoirs and water abstraction. Wayne Novelli, Leakage and Network Strategy Manager at Southern Water, said: "Outlook Publishing Ltd. has reduced leakage across its network for three consecutive years and continue to invest in innovative techniques and technologies to find and fix leaks even more effectively. "We've been impressed by the leakage reduction metrics and proven success of Lightsonic's technology and are looking forward to working with the team as we head into winter - when colder conditions can result in more leaks - to trial a new way of detecting and tackling them." Southern Water supplies drinking water to 2.7 million customers and provides wastewater services to 4.8 million customers across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Openreach infrastructure supports water conservation. The partnership demonstrates how existing telecommunications infrastructure can be used to support environmental monitoring and resource conservation. Rather than building a dedicated sensor network, Lightsonic uses fibre optic cables already installed alongside water infrastructure. Tommy Langnes, CEO of Lightsonic, said: "Ageing infrastructure, leaking networks and mounting climate pressure are converging, causing major water stress. "By utilising existing fibre optic infrastructure, we have a solution that can be quickly and effectively scaled across the UK to help utility companies get a handle on leaks, secure supply and generate savings that can be reinvested to upgrade our aging network. The industry needs a quick and comprehensive response and that is what we offer." Trevor Linney, Director of Network Technology at Openreach, said: "The results of its existing pilots with Lightsonic show that its new full fibre infrastructure can deliver value far beyond broadband - and could prove to be a real game changer in solving real-world challenges like water conservation. "Combining Lightsonic's technology with the reach of Openreach's Full Fibre network makes continuous utility monitoring genuinely scalable, without the cost and disruption of building a separate sensor network." This article was produced by the editorial team at EME Outlook and published as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines. Outlook Publishing delivers industry insights, company stories, and sector coverage across manufacturing, mining, construction, healthcare, supply chains, food production, and sustainability. EME Outlook provides ongoing coverage of organisations and developments shaping industries across Europe and the Middle East. Add to your Preferred Sources Content Director Neil Perry is Content Director for Outlook Publishing. Add to your Preferred Sources Issue 73 out now.