THERE are calls to declare a major incident as 2,500 residents in East Sussex have no water supply or suffering low pressure.
Properties in part of Crowborough, Wadhurst, Rotherfield, Mayfield and the surrounding villages are still without water after South-East Water declared it is struggling to keep with the demand.
A number of schools have been closed and bottled water stations have been set up in each town to supply water to those who need it.
Wealden Conservatives are calling for more action. A spokesperson said: “The recent water supply problems in North Wealden have caused significant and prolonged distress and disruption to residents, businesses, schools and other bodies. As of today, there remains no plan or timetable for resolution. The response of the new Wealden Lib Dem/Green Alliance Administration has been chaotic and indecisive.”
Incident Manager from South-East Water, Steve Andrews, told East Sussex News: “Yesterday we produced 654 megalitres of tap water, when the usual figure is 540.
All our water treatment works and water sources available to us are being used, but with the demand still so high, our treated water storage reservoirs are not refilling enough to keep all our customers in supply.
We are working with schools to try to get alternate water to them. We also have bottled water collection stations set up which will be open from 9.30am today. Details are on our website.
Customers on our priority services register are receiving deliveries of bottled water from our Customer Care Team.
We are doing everything we can, including moving water around our network. However we are continuing to ask customers who do have tap water supplies to only use it for essential tasks such as hygiene, hydration and cooking. Please don’t use hosepipes and sprinklers as this drains the system very quickly.”
MP for Wealden, Nus Ghani said: “”South East Water have failed yet again. Only six months after the hugely disruptive outages in the run up to Christmas, it is unacceptable that Wealden households, businesses and schools in Crowborough, Rotherfield, Mayfield and Wadhurst are without running water again.
I am making repeated representations to South East Water to make sure they are prioritising these incidents and that water stations are accessible and have sufficient supply. I have spoken to families and headteachers dealing with no water and I have asked South East Water to trigger a hosepipe ban as we are now in an emergency. I have spoken with the Leader of East Sussex County Council and I am sharing all correspondence with South East Water to make them aware of the severe level of disruption locally.”
