Southern Water · overflow SWS00803
Currently spilling
Recorded by the operator as MEDWAY. The outfall is 6 m from the River Len on the Ordnance Survey river network, which is the river this page groups it under.
The monitor for overflow SWS00803 (operator listed as Southern Water) reports a spill into the River Len (status timestamp in the public data: 13 Oct 2026 at 08:48 UTC). The nearest water-quality test is 1871 m away with no recent observations on record.
📍 51.26198°, 0.56663°
no observations on record
“Monitor data shows a single discharge event running since 13 Oct 2026 (4 days), with the overflow still reported as active at the latest update. A continuous event of this length can also indicate a stuck or faulty monitor; the record does not distinguish the two.”
⏱ Monitor data shows continuous discharge for 5 days, since 13 Oct 2026, still reported active at the latest update
1
spill event
110h
cumulative discharge
5 days
longest single event
2026-10-13
first event on record
In the last 30 days this overflow recorded 110h of discharge. Across Southern Water's 1,046 monitored overflows the median was 0h. This site is in the top 1% by 30-day spill duration.
123 other overflows discharge into the River Medway. Combined recorded discharge in the last 30 days: 699h.
no rainfall data close enough
Rainfall comes from the nearest Environment Agency rain gauge within 10 km, using 15-minute readings rolled into hourly totals. Where a gauge is further away, or too many readings are missing, we say so rather than guess. Rain figures do not show whether a discharge was permitted; that is a matter for the regulator. How we keep the record.
What the water company itself reported to the Environment Agency’s annual returns for this overflow, year by year. Hours are the total reported discharge duration; monitor working is the share of the year the event monitor was operating (a figure of 0% may mean no usable monitoring data rather than no spills). These figures are the operator's own reporting, not our measurement, and our live record above begins on 6 May 2026.
| Year | Spills counted | Hours | Monitor working | Matched by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 23h | 63% | hub id |
| 2025 | 0 | 0h | 96% | hub id |
2024, the operator's stated reason: "High spill threshold not met"
2025, the operator's stated reason: "High spill threshold not met"
Source: Environment Agency, Event Duration Monitoring storm overflow annual returns, all years. Matched to this overflow by hub id.
The nearest Environment Agency rain gauge, Hockers Lane, is 2.6 km from this overflow. It has no hourly totals on record for the last 48 hours.
| Day (UTC) | Rain |
|---|---|
| 18 Sept 2026 | 0.0 mm |
| 17 Sept 2026 | 1.1 mm |
| 16 Sept 2026 | 0.0 mm |
| 18 Aug 2026 | 0.1 mm |
| 17 Aug 2026 | 0.1 mm |
| 18 Jun 2026 | 0.0 mm |
| 17 Jun 2026 | 0.0 mm |
Rainfall comes from 15-minute Environment Agency readings rolled into hourly and daily totals. The gauge is 2.6 km from this overflow, so it may not match the rain at the site itself, and the latest day may be incomplete. Rain figures do not show whether a discharge was permitted; that is a matter for the regulator. How we keep the record.
Latest readings at the Environment Agency gauge "Stilebridge", on the River Beult, which is 7.5 km from this overflow.
These are the Environment Agency's own gauge readings at the named station, shown for context. The station measures the river, not this overflow, and a reading does not show whether a discharge occurred or was permitted. Trend compares the latest reading with the one nearest 24 hours earlier; a change of 5% or less is shown as steady. How we keep the record.
SO-LSN097 · FRESHWATER - LAKES/PONDS/RESERVOIRS
1.9 km away
No swimmer-relevant measurements available.
SO-E0000490 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS
1.9 km away · last tested 2 weeks ago
SO-SSN0503 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS
3.1 km away
No swimmer-relevant measurements available.
SO-E0000504 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS
3.3 km away
No swimmer-relevant measurements available.
SO-E0000478 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS
3.4 km away
No swimmer-relevant measurements available.
SO-E0000511 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS
3.6 km away
No swimmer-relevant measurements available.
The record above is verifiable from public Environment Agency and water-company data. Three official accountability channels — pre-filled with the evidence on this page.
If you can see foam, sewage debris, dead fish, or smell something wrong — submit a citizen report. Confirmed reports are added to the Truth Engine and strengthen the public record on this overflow.
📷 Report what you saw →The official complaints route. Most companies require submission through their web form rather than email — open the form, then paste the pre-filled letter.
Subject: Storm overflow SWS00803 on the MEDWAY: request for information Dear Southern Water, I am writing about storm overflow SWS00803 on the MEDWAY. Environment Agency storm overflow monitoring data for overflow SWS00803 on the MEDWAY (operator listed as Southern Water) records 1 spill event starting between 17 September 2026 and 17 October 2026; none of them has a published end time. The most recent recorded event started on 13 October 2026 at 08:48 UTC. As of 17 October 2026 at 22:21 UTC, the monitor currently reports the overflow as spilling (status timestamp in the public data: 13 October 2026 at 08:48 UTC). Further details from the public record: - Open automated data flags on River Truth for this overflow: 3 (comparisons between public datasets, not findings of fault) - Nearest Environment Agency water-quality sampling point: 1871 m away, with no recent observations in the public Water Quality Archive - On the River Len, per the OS Open Rivers network (Ordnance Survey, Open Government Licence) - Location: 51.26198, 0.56663 - Sources: Environment Agency National Storm Overflow Hub and Water Quality Archive (Open Government Licence v3.0), cross-referenced via River Truth (https://rivertruth.co.uk/overflow/8599) These figures are taken from public monitoring data as published and may be revised by the publisher. They are not a finding that any permit condition has been breached. [Add your personal context here, for example how you use this stretch of water.] Please could you tell me: 1. Whether the monitoring record summarised above is accurate and complete 2. What caused the recorded spill events 3. What work, if any, is planned at this overflow, and on what timeline 4. What measures are in place to reduce spills from this overflow in future [Delete if not applicable: I have copied the Environment Agency, Ofwat and my MP into this correspondence.] Yours faithfully, [Your name] [Your address] [Your customer reference if you are a Southern Water customer]
This overflow sits in the Faversham and Mid Kent constituency — currently represented by Helen Whately (Conservative). Click below to open WriteToThem with the letter copied to your clipboard — paste it into the message box.
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Subject: Constituent query: storm overflow SWS00803 on the MEDWAY Dear [your MP, WriteToThem will fill this in], I am writing as your constituent about public storm overflow monitoring data for our area. Environment Agency storm overflow monitoring data for overflow SWS00803 on the MEDWAY (operator listed as Southern Water) records 1 spill event starting between 17 September 2026 and 17 October 2026; none of them has a published end time. The most recent recorded event started on 13 October 2026 at 08:48 UTC. As of 17 October 2026 at 22:21 UTC, the monitor currently reports the overflow as spilling (status timestamp in the public data: 13 October 2026 at 08:48 UTC). Further details from the public record: - Open automated data flags on River Truth for this overflow: 3 (comparisons between public datasets, not findings of fault) - Nearest Environment Agency water-quality sampling point: 1871 m away, with no recent observations in the public Water Quality Archive - On the River Len, per the OS Open Rivers network (Ordnance Survey, Open Government Licence) - Location: 51.26198, 0.56663 - Sources: Environment Agency National Storm Overflow Hub and Water Quality Archive (Open Government Licence v3.0), cross-referenced via River Truth (https://rivertruth.co.uk/overflow/8599) These figures are taken from public monitoring data as published and may be revised by the publisher. They are not a finding that any permit condition has been breached. [Add your personal context here, for example how you and your family use this stretch of water.] I would like to ask: 1. Whether you support strengthening the regulatory regime for storm overflows, and monitor coverage in particular 2. Whether you would raise the monitoring data for this overflow with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency or Ofwat Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Your address (WriteToThem requires a postal address to verify your constituency)]
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For active pollution incidents — dead fish, foam, sewage on the riverbank — the EA hotline operates 24/7 and triggers a recorded investigation.