Southern Water is under fire from Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde after a storm overflow discharged screened wastewater into the sea despite a heatwave.
The five-minute release occurred on May 26 via an outfall 4 kilometers offshore.
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Ofwat explains that storm overflows act as relief valves to prevent sewage backups during heavy rain.
However, the lack of precipitation raised concerns about accountability and environmental impact during the summer tourist season.
Babarinde criticized the company, stating, "This is absolutely outrageous from Southern Water. Storm overflow with absolutely no storm in sight?"
He escalated the issue to CEO Lawrence Gosden, demanding a full explanation and a plan to prevent future incidents.
Southern Water confirmed the brief operational issue and said computer modeling showed no impact on bathing water.
A spokesperson added, "We recognise the importance of this area to the local community and will continue to monitor the situation closely."
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Canine Leak Detection Trial
Separately, Southern Water is trialing trained spaniels—Mylo, Kilo, and Tico—to locate underground pipe leaks in rural Hampshire.
Managed by CAPE SPC, the dogs have a 95 percent accuracy rate by detecting chlorine scent in treated water.
The dogs cover about 7 kilometers daily in a zigzag pattern, signaling leaks by lying down.
In a 30-day trial, they found 20 hidden leaks that traditional sensors missed.
Dr. Nick Mills, Director of Environment and Innovation at Southern Water, said, "We’re committed to cutting network leakage by 50% by 2050...
Rural areas have long posed a challenge... CAPE’s dogs offer a promising solution."
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Lewis Worley, CAPE SPC handler, noted that dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors, making them effective for leak detection in remote areas.
