East Sussex water shortage branded 'shambolic' as residents face 10th day without supplies
350 properties are currently without water
Southern Water
Hundreds of homes in East Sussex are facing their tenth day in a row without water sparking fury from residents.
Residents in Rye, Winchelsea and Camber have had to resort to using bottles of water as their supply has been cut off.
The issue arose after Southern Water identified an unknown leak last Friday (September 22) and then discovered the burst pipe.
However, ten days later, it has still not been resolved.
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Southern Water has apologised for the incident, which is still affecting around 350 properties.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Nearly all our customers are now back on mains supply, as we have re-routed water to around 4,900 customers,” a spokesman said.
“Tankering is still supporting in some areas to limit supply interruptions and low pressure while we recharge the network.”
They said they were working to bring the 350 properties “back into supply”.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Bottled water stations have been opened at Rye station and at Western car park in Camber
Southern Water
Residents have been left without water or with low pressure, which was caused by problems to do with feeding water into the households via tankers.
Bottled water stations have been opened at Rye station and at Western car park in Camber, for affected residents to collect.
One resident who runs the Owl Hotel in Camber said without water, she had to send staff home and shut down.
Madeline Spanswick said: “We can’t open with no water…..Not having any warning didn’t help us at all. We just woke up with no water.”
She said that she received no warning that her supply had been cut off and that it has negatively impacted her business.
Bottled water stations have been opened at Rye station and at Western car park in Camber
Southern Water
Steve Reed MP, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary said: “This is a shambolic situation that has left businesses and households in Rye stranded without the most basic amenity for over a week.
“Local pubs, shops and schools have been forced to close.
“And yet Southern Water have failed to deliver on their own promises and deadlines to sort this crisis. To make matters worse, this Conservative government and local Conservative MP have been missing in action leaving residents in the lurch.
“To be frank, Southern Water need to grow a backbone and get a grip. They must immediately ensure emergency water supplies are reaching vulnerable residents, get the water supply back on and arrange compensation for affected residents and businesses.
“But this is just the tip of the iceberg of a water industry and regulatory framework that is broken, working in the interest of fat-cat bosses and shareholders, not consumers.”
A spokesman for Southern Water, Head of Project Delivery Mark Wintringham, said: “We’ve made good progress on the emergency repairs to re zone of water supplies to our customers in Rye, Camber and Winchelsea.
“All our customers are now back in supply with 350 customers who had low pressure or intermittent supply being brought back into supply overnight.
“Tankers are still pouring water into our network in some areas while we recharge the network. Bottled water stations use will be monitored.
“We’re extremely sorry the impact this burst water main has had on the community and we appreciate your patience and help by contacting us to help us fix the problems with low pressure and intermittent supplies.”
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