What is the issue with the Lymington River?

The Lymington River in Hampshire has been polluted by raw sewage due to illegal drainage connections from nearby properties, leading to E. coli levels 80 times the safe limit.

How did Southern Water respond to the Lymington River pollution?

Southern Water has taken steps to address the issue, including using tankers to remove the polluted water and working to fix the illegal drainage connections that are causing the sewage to flow into the river.

What did Lymington residents say about the sewage problem?

Lymington residents have long complained about a "terrible smell" near the sewer outfalls, but the issue was not addressed until recently when the high E. coli levels were discovered.

Home / Environment / Illegal Drainage Causes Sewage Pollution in Lymington River

Illegal Drainage Causes Sewage Pollution in Lymington River

13 Oct

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Summary

Illegal drainage connections found sending toilet waste into surface water pipes
E. coli levels in Lymington River 80 times the safe limit
Residents reported "terrible smell" near sewer outfalls for years

Illegal Drainage Causes Sewage Pollution in Lymington River

As of October 13th, 2025, Southern Water has uncovered a troubling issue in Lymington, Hampshire, where properties have been illegally draining their toilet waste into surface water pipes, causing raw sewage to flow into the local Lymington River.

This discovery comes after previous concerns raised by Friends of the Earth campaigners, who reported that E. coli levels in the river were an alarming 80 times the safe limit, indicating severe faecal contamination. Lymington resident Jon Holland, a former drainage engineer, was involved in the E. coli testing and described the situation as "absolutely terrible," with readings reaching 81,000 units - far exceeding the safe limit of 1,000.

The problem has been traced back to around 20 properties in the Brunswick Place area, which were built in the 1980s. Lymington Society chair Don Mackenzie believes the issue may be more widespread, as many local properties may have their wastewater pipes incorrectly connected to surface water drains rather than the sewer system.