Sewers are designed to overflow into the sea and rivers when treatment facilities are overwhelmed by torrential rain. If sewage is not released, it could spill into streets or toilets. The process, known as storm overflow, occurs as the majority of sewers in Britain’s networks carry both rainwater and sewage. In a statement on their website, Wessex Water says storm overflows “prevent flooding of properties after heavy rainfall” and should “have little or no ecological impact because what is released is diluted sewage”. Flooding and storms are expected to hit parts of the UK over the next few days, with the Met Office issuing an orange storm warning for Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, posing a risk of flooding to homes and businesses, power cuts and transport chaos . The Met Office issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms on Wednesday, covering an area of England from Chichester to Ipswich and including London and all of Kent. The warning, which runs from 11am to 10pm, said flooding to homes and businesses was “likely”, with some buildings damaged by flooding, lightning, hail or strong winds. Fast-flowing or deep flooding water is also said to be “likely to cause danger to life”.
