Raw sewage poured down Fort Hill in Margate earlier today, splashing onto pavements near the Turner Contemporary and appearing to leak from a drain outside Margate Police Station. southern water was contacted by local councillor Helen Whitehead and later said that at 12: 42pm ET today its team attended an overflowing manhole, identified a blocked sewer and completed a clean-up operation. Councillor Whitehead demanded a detailed explanation and an extensive biological cleanup for waste spread across the town centre.
Southern Water response and timeline
A Southern Water spokesperson said: “At 12: 42pm ET today, we were alerted to an overflowing manhole in Fort Hill, Margate. Our team attended the site promptly and identified a blocked sewer as the cause of the overflow. The area has now been cleaned, and the network is operating normally once again. ” The spokesperson added that the blockage was caused by wet wipes and cooking fat and described those items as a major issue for sewage systems. southern water noted it operates 34, 000 advanced monitors across its network using AI to detect blockages forming so crews can intervene early; last year the system enabled more than 4, 000 early interventions. The company highlighted that 70 per cent of blockages are preventable if only pee, poo and paper go down the loo and cooking fat is disposed of in the bin.
Immediate reactions
“I have contacted Southern Water regarding the river of sewage currently flowing down Fort Hill Road, along with a request for a detailed explanation of how exactly they will be cleaning up human biological waste that is currently being spread across Margate, ” said Helen Whitehead, local councillor. “Nothing about the current state of our sewage systems is acceptable, and an extensive biological cleanup, as well as a full explanation of how this happened, and how it will be prevented in the future, is essential. ” Observers on the street saw tissue and other matter littering the road and passing cars causing waste to splash onto pavements before crews finished the clean-up.
What happened elsewhere and what to expect next
Separately, work to replace ageing water mains on the Isle of Wight finished early and the one-way system on the Cowes-Newport route was lifted when the route opened fully on Wednesday morning ET after crews replaced the old main with a 500m plastic pipe. southern water said that upgrade will reduce the risk of bursts, leaks, water discolouration and interruptions to supplies. Back in Margate, local officials have asked for a full explanation and for evidence of the biological cleanup; residents and businesses can expect follow-up contact as investigations and checks continue.
Watch for further statements from southern water and responses from local authorities as the town confirms any additional sanitation work and prevention measures.
