Portland's main drainage scheme was designed by Mr E. J. Elford, Surveyor and Engineer to the Portland Urban District Council from 1895 to 1902, and now Borough Engineer and Surveyor at Southend-on-Sea. The works were started in May, 1900, and completed in December, 1902. Messrs B. Cooke & Co. were the contractors for Nos. 1 and 3 districts ; and Messrs. Pedrette & Co. contractors for 2 district. The scheme cost �19,400. There are 8� miles of main sewers, the outfall for the Underhill district going through the Chesil Beach into the West Bay ; while the outfall for the Tophill district is situated at Cheyne about half-a-mile south of Church Hope Cove. The drainage of Castletown and the low-lying part of Chesil is lifted to the high level sewer by means of Adam's patent lifts. The lift at Castletown is worked by water from the town mains, but the high level sewage from Fortune's Well lift the sewage from the Chesil district, thereby effecting a great saving in water cost. The drainage of No. 4 district (estimated to cost �2,250), which will be carried out shortly, will empty into the sea at Freshwater Bay.

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