Balcombe SSO - 115796
Storm overflow operated by Southern Water. The source names Unnamed Tributary of River Ouse as the receiving water.
- 33
- Spills in 2025
- 416
- Recorded hours
- 100%
- Monitor operation
- 5
- Years listed
Checking the latest monitor report…
How it compares in 2025
Balcombe SSO - 115796 recorded 33 spills in 2025. That is more than 77% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 3,116th nationally. Among Southern Water overflows it ranks 165th of 975; the median Southern Water overflow recorded 7 spills. On the Ouse from Slaugham to Ardingly Resevoir waterbody it ranks 1st of 3.
| Group | Rank by spills | Median spills | Median hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| This outlet | – | 33 | 416 |
| England | 3,116th of 14,239 | 11 | 22.3 |
| Southern Water | 165th of 975 | 7 | 17 |
| Ouse from Slaugham to Ardingly Resevoir | 1st of 3 | 19 | 124.9 |
Rank 1 has the most spills. Equal counts share a rank. Only overflows with a reported count are ranked. Counts do not measure volume, so a higher rank does not mean more sewage.
Annual spill history
| Year | Spills | Duration | Monitor operation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | 416 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2024 | 59 | 474.2 hours | 85.1%Low coverage | Official data |
| 2023 | 98 | 1,247 hours | 99.7% | Official data |
| 2022 | 69 | 955.9 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2021 | 58 | 542 hours | 100% | Official data |
A missing figure means the source did not provide a usable value. A zero is shown as zero. Monitor operation below 90% can make comparison less reliable.
Outlet details
- Water company
- Southern Water
- Outlet type
- Storm tank at a wastewater treatment works
- Permit
- A01510
- Activity reference
- Settled Storm
- Grid reference
- TQ3136028530
- Waterbody ID
- GB107041012730Official waterbody record ↗
- Location source
- Official annual grid reference
- Location precision
- About 1 metres
- Location note
- Unknown
About the name and type
The annual return lists this asset as “Storm tank at WwTW”: storm tank at a wastewater treatment works. The overflow comes from storm storage at a treatment works.
The source name includes SSO, which Southern Water defines as Settled Storm Overflow. The name and the listed type are separate source fields, so the name does not describe the layout of the site. Southern Water flow and spill reporting glossary ↗
The waterbody link opens the Environment Agency record for the exact ID in the return. It is a source lookup; we do not import its classification.
Where it is
The recorded position is about 1.8 km south of the Balcombe reference point in the ONS built-up areas data.
Area and water pages
Check the official record
Public access to this outlet is unknown. Do not enter restricted land or use this page as a route guide.
Open official source ↗Other outlet records nearby
- Balcombe CEO - 115977Current status unknown
Southern Water · Unnamed Tributary of River Ouse
- St James Cottage Balcombe CSO - 108896Current status unknown
Southern Water · Unnamed Tributary of Balcombe Lake
- Staplefield CSO - 116128Current status unknown
Southern Water · The River Ouse
- Ardingly CSO - 111045Current status unknown
Southern Water · Lywood Stream Tributary River Ouse
Questions about Balcombe SSO - 115796
- Who operates Balcombe SSO - 115796?
- Southern Water is the operator named in the annual record. The permit reference is A01510.
- Where does Balcombe SSO - 115796 discharge?
- The source names Unnamed Tributary of River Ouse as the receiving water. This does not show how far a discharge travelled.
- How many times did Balcombe SSO - 115796 spill in 2025?
- The 2025 return records 33 counted spill events and 416 hours of recorded discharge. Spills are counted with the 12/24-hour method, so this is not a count of every start signal.
- Can I trust the 2025 figures for this outlet?
- The monitor worked for 100% of the reporting period, so the annual figures cover most of the year. They still do not measure discharge volume.
- Is Balcombe SSO - 115796 discharging right now?
- This record is linked to a company live feed. The panel above shows the latest report we hold, with its date. That report can be old, and the monitor can be offline, so check the date before relying on it. A report that no discharge is taking place is not a water-quality result.
- How accurate is the map marker?
- The marker comes from the grid reference in the official annual return, which is accurate to about 1 metres. It shows the recorded outlet position, not the extent of any discharge.
- What kind of outlet is Balcombe SSO - 115796?
- The annual return lists the asset type as “Storm tank at WwTW”, which means storm tank at a wastewater treatment works. The overflow comes from storm storage at a treatment works. The source name includes SSO, which Southern Water defines as Settled Storm Overflow. The name and the listed type are separate source fields.
- How does Balcombe SSO - 115796 compare with other overflows?
- Balcombe SSO - 115796 recorded 33 spills in 2025. That is more than 77% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 3,116th nationally. Among Southern Water overflows it ranks 165th of 975; the median Southern Water overflow recorded 7 spills. On the Ouse from Slaugham to Ardingly Resevoir waterbody it ranks 1st of 3. Ranks compare counted spill events only. They do not compare volume or harm.
- Does zero spills mean the water was safe?
- No. A zero means the annual return recorded zero counted spill events for this outlet and year. It is not a water-quality test, and pollution can come from other sources.