West Sussex: Hopes £3m investment can stop flooding in villages

Joff Edevane, pathfinder delivery lead for wetlands and harbours at Southern Water, said the ground in the area was mostly chalk which “acts as a sponge”, collecting water for months.

“We have found that basically this groundwater is seeping into the joints of our pipes. We’re sealing those joints to stop the groundwater going in,” he told BBC Radio Sussex.

“The groundwater causes lots of issues for residents, it can flood their properties in extreme circumstances and can mean they can’t flush their loo.

“We’ve always had these problems with groundwater flow, but the focus from customers is much more on addressing that now. It never used to be in the past, people are much more environmentally aware and there’s more pressure from the Environment Agency to reduce these storm overflows.”

The work started in January and is part of more than 8km (4.9 miles) of pipe relining by Southern Water in the Lavant Valley. There was also a similar £1.1m scheme in the neighbouring village of East Dean last year.

Deborah Harwood, chair of Singleton Parish Council, said the flooding was “relentless” in the past.