Portland Southwell
Storm overflow operated by Wessex Water. The source names Freshwater Bay as the receiving water.
- 12
- Spills in 2025
- 14.2
- Recorded hours
- 100%
- Monitor operation
- 4
- Years listed
The reported spill count was 10 lower than in 2024. This compares event counts, not discharge volume.
Checking the latest monitor report…
How it compares in 2025
Portland Southwell recorded 12 spills in 2025. That is more than 51% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 6,643rd nationally. Among Wessex Water overflows it ranks 625th of 1,332; the median Wessex Water overflow recorded 11 spills. On the Dorset / Hampshire waterbody it ranks 7th of 21.
| Group | Rank by spills | Median spills | Median hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| This outlet | – | 12 | 14.2 |
| England | 6,643rd of 14,239 | 11 | 22.3 |
| Wessex Water | 625th of 1,332 | 11 | 18.9 |
| Dorset / Hampshire | 7th of 21 | 7 | 6.3 |
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 | 12 | 14.2 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2024 | 22 | 39.2 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2023 | 19 | 23.8 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2022 | 10 | 9.3 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
- Wessex Water
- Outlet type
- Storm discharge at a pumping station
- Permit
- 040686
- Activity reference
- 1-STORM/EMERGENCY
- Grid reference
- SY6908069880
- Waterbody ID
- GB620705550000Official 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 discharge at pumping station”: storm discharge at a pumping station. The overflow is at a pumping station that moves sewage through the network.
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 0.7 km south-east of the Southwell (Dorset) reference point in the ONS built-up areas data.
Designated bathing waters within 3 km in a straight line:
Distance does not show that water from this outlet reaches a bathing water. Check the official bathing-water profile for its classification and advice.
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
- Portland Weston Street NewCurrent status unknown
Wessex Water · Groundwater via Infilt System
- Portland Pennsylvania RoadCurrent status unknown
Wessex Water · Ground
- Portland BillCurrent status unknown
Wessex Water · English Channel(C)
- Portland Railway Gravity SewerCurrent status unknown
Wessex Water · Lyme Bay (C)
Questions about Portland Southwell
- Who operates Portland Southwell?
- Wessex Water is the operator named in the annual record. The permit reference is 040686.
- Where does Portland Southwell discharge?
- The source names Freshwater Bay as the receiving water. This does not show how far a discharge travelled.
- How many times did Portland Southwell spill in 2025?
- The 2025 return records 12 counted spill events and 14.2 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 Portland Southwell 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 Portland Southwell?
- The annual return lists the asset type as “Storm discharge at pumping station”, which means storm discharge at a pumping station. The overflow is at a pumping station that moves sewage through the network.
- How does Portland Southwell compare with other overflows?
- Portland Southwell recorded 12 spills in 2025. That is more than 51% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 6,643rd nationally. Among Wessex Water overflows it ranks 625th of 1,332; the median Wessex Water overflow recorded 11 spills. On the Dorset / Hampshire waterbody it ranks 7th of 21. 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.