en.Wedoany.com Reported - Anglian Water and North Northants Council have jointly invested over £1 million to reduce the risk of sewage overflow during heavy rainfall in the Thorpe Malsor area by addressing historical drainage system problems.

During an investigation into local environmental overflow incidents, Anglian Water discovered that some historical highway gullies in the village of Thorpe Malsor, northern Northamptonshire, had been connected to the foul sewer network. These facilities, designed to collect rainwater runoff, were introducing additional surface water into pipes originally intended for wastewater, placing extra strain on the system and increasing the risk of overflow into the environment.

The company's Misconnection Team and Complex Investigations & Solutions Team further confirmed 15 such historical connections. Although these connections were originally installed to standard, local conditions have changed over time, causing the additional flow from these gullies to place excessive pressure on the sewage treatment process.

Since April 2025, these connections have caused over 30 overflow events in the village. Anglian Water subsequently worked closely with local stakeholders, including the North Northamptonshire Highways team, to jointly investigate the issue and develop a long-term solution. The North Northants Council's Highways team implemented engineering measures to disconnect these historical highway connections from the foul sewer network.

The work involved diverting new gullies and natural watercourses within the village into a newly constructed surface water drain. This solution aims to prevent rainwater from entering the foul sewer, thereby relieving pressure on the system during heavy rainfall. Paul Louth, Anglian Water's Water Recycling Director, noted that there are many factors causing sewage overflows, not all of which are within the company's control, making collaboration with the North Northants Council Highways team crucial for identifying and resolving the issue. Once the work is complete, overflow events in the area are expected to reduce to fewer than 10 per year.

Cllr Chris McGiffen, North Northants Council's Executive Member for Highways and Transport, stated that this collaboration has brought significant long-term improvements. Alex Hill from Kier Infrastructure emphasized that the project was completed successfully despite space constraints and complex underground infrastructure, demonstrating the value of collaboration.

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