More than 32,000 homes, schools, leisure centres, and theatres are still grappling with water shortages three days after a critical pipe burst in dense woodland, forcing families to endure lengthy queues for bottles of water in East Sussex.
The water company, Southern Water, issued an apology for the prolonged disruption, acknowledging the inconvenience faced by residents in St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, and Westfield.
Despite repairs to the burst pipe being completed on Saturday, the restoration of water service remains a work in progress. Southern Water confirmed that the burst, located between Darwell Reservoir and water supply works feeding into Hastings, has necessitated a thorough restart of the water supply.
The impact of the crisis has been severe, with schools, leisure centres, and theatres in the affected areas forced to close their doors this week. Locals have been enduring gridlock traffic for hours as they navigate their way to bottled water stations, facing lengthy queues and frustration.
The incident, occurring on one of the busiest weekends of the year, has compounded the challenges for residents and businesses alike, coinciding with the annual Jack In The Green Festival and the May Day Bike Run in Hastings, which typically attract thousands of visitors to the area.
Amid the chaos, reports have emerged of thefts of bottled water, exacerbating the plight of vulnerable residents. Additionally, businesses have been hard hit, with one hotel resorting to flushing toilets with seawater due to the water shortage.
Southern Water has implemented measures to alleviate the crisis, including the establishment of water bottle stations and the delivery of bottled water to over 6,000 customers on its priority services register. However, the challenging location of the burst, situated deep within Keeper’s Wood, has complicated repair efforts.
The disruption has sparked an outcry from residents, with some expressing frustration at being excluded from the water company’s priority services register despite previous requests for inclusion.
As efforts continue to restore water supply to affected areas, Southern Water remains committed to supporting customers and mitigating the impact of the crisis. However, the complexity of the situation suggests that disruptions may persist over the weekend, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by residents and businesses alike in the wake of the water crisis.
