Not Quite Flushed Away: E. coli Returns to the Lymington Outfall

Despite earlier repair work by Southern Water, our latest tests show that E. coli contamination has returned to the Lymington River outfall. The problem may lie in trapped sewage residues within the surface water system, and until the network is properly cleaned, the pollution isn’t going anywhere.

Earlier this year, Southern Water corrected a long-standing drainage problem from Brunswick Place by installing a new foul sewer. During the work, a temporary inflatable bung was used to block the old line so that no sewage could enter the outfall on the Lymington River. Tests taken at that stage showed E. coli counts of 500 and 700 CFU per 100 mL – indicating some bacterial presence but broadly within the normal background range.

Once the new connection was opened and wastewater began flowing again into the foul system (which is pumped to Pennington for treatment), we tested once more. On 27 October, E. coli levels had risen sharply to 11 200 CFU per 100 mL, confirming that contamination had returned to the outfall. We have asked Southern Water to carry out CCTV inspection and cleansing of the drainage system to locate and remove the remaining source, but this work does not yet appear to have taken place.

Our review of the local drainage layout suggests that trapped sewage residues from the earlier misconnection are still present somewhere in the surface-water network. The pumping stations in this area are designed to handle clean rainwater only, but before the new sewer was installed, one or more had received foul sewage from Brunswick Place. Material from that period may remain within parts of the system and continue to leach out.

Several key access chambers and surface-water lines now need to be thoroughly jetted and cleaned, with the waste removed by tanker into the foul sewer for proper treatment. This is essential to prevent ongoing contamination of the river.

What We’re Asking the Town Council

Since Southern Water are no longer responding directly to our enquiries, we are asking Lymington & Pennington Town Council to submit a formal Freedom of Information request seeking:

• Confirmation of the current drainage layout and the condition of the key chambers & pipework.

• Details of any jetting, cleaning or CCTV inspection already carried out, to include sharing of the CCTV data for all lines near the outfalls.

• Details of any further work planned

• A schedule for removing residual faecal material & preventing further pollution of the

• outfall.

We will continue to monitor E. coli at the site and share results as they become available. Until the system has been properly cleaned and verified, raised bacterial levels are likely to persist.