Suggestion: if you prefer to follow the tour as the water flows from North to South, scroll upward from the bottom of the page.

After it's journey from the South Downs, having been supplemented by springs, fields and ditches along the way the freshwater merges with the sea via the old mill gate underneath the Sailing Club or, in the winter, via Colner Creek (see below). When the club gate is closed it pours gently over a mini-sluice to one side.

The outward flow:
 

Fly Tipping of Garden Waste:

We have to take this problem very seriously as it really is a threat. Not only does it put a lot of property in jeopardy, it also creates a threat to the lives of a few who have to sort it out in ways that you would probably never imagine (you'll see what I mean if you click the following links). Although there will always be a natural occurrence of foliage and broken wood, this fly-tipping of Garden Waste is certainly not natural - and it could cause serious flooding in heavy rainfall if the Quaymaster or Water Bailiff are unable to open the Quay sluice in a hurry (minutes can count). This area is very dangerous to access. No kidding, please think about it!

Here's a view across the "Old Mill Pond" which stretches for at least 300 yards from Moreton Road to the Church. The Romans would have known this scene well but unless you own one of the houses that border the SW side of Bosham Lane it is unlikely you would ever see this glorious view and the teaming wild life which inhabits the area. It is something special to be invited for a cuppa in one of these lovely back gardens. My job definitely has it's benefits!

The picture you see below "the Leat" draws water from the Millstream and then flows under several houses for about 120 yards and enters the road drainage system where, for another 220 yards or so it flows toward the lowest point in the central part of the old Village at the former Service station. It then enters a large pipe flowing into what is known as the Central Water Way (classified officially as a Main River). This flows through the Ponds at Benedicts and the Burial Ground and runs south to the Trippet. All rainwater that falls between Delling Lane and The Millstream Hotel escapes the Village via this route. It is a critical point.
 

under the Critchfield Rd bridge at the top of Brook Avenue:
 

The combination of the two blockages seen above (right) being close together could create a serious problem. If the build-up were allowed to continue: a) in the summer it could cut off a large quantity (perhaps all) of the water from the Village and; b) in the winter it might create a dam, causing flooding across the cricket pitch and into the houses that border "Green's Field". As I write the situation is being dealt with. The field owner has "riparian duties" to clear the tree and the poor old water bailiff (me) will probably have to remove the crate that some yob hoiked in there! Never mind, I'll choose a nice day, have a picnic and a paddle. Join me? :o)

And finally....

In this short part of our tour we will look at the northern peripheries and discover one of the most important "flow control points" and the sources from whence our water flows. Here's the overall scenario:

The bottom line is that we get too much water in the winter and generally not enough in the Summer. The images you see below illustrate one of the sources where the water from the South Downs flows into a Mill pond at a Village to the North and is fed by numerous fresh-water springs. This is how we control the amount of water that flows into our village -- or is redirected elsewhere. For reasons obvious to all on the web I'm not describing it's location. Security cameras are installed.