Eastbourne MP 'deeply concerned' about South East water and drought in Sussex
Josh Babarinde OBE released a statement expressing his ‘concern’ about the ‘severe drought’ in some parts of Sussex.
He said: “I am deeply concerned that parts of Sussex have officially been classified as being in a state of ‘severe drought’.
“This follows reports that water levels at Ardingly Reservoir have fallen below 20% after prolonged dry weather throughout the summer.
“Fixing leaks - They have informed me that the additional workforce has helped reduce the volume of water lost through leaks by 4 million litres since August. However, this progress must be put into perspective: approximately 104 million litres of water are still being lost through leaks every day.
“Connecting water networks - A new pipeline is now transferring water from Bewl in Kent to the East Sussex network. This provides greater flexibility and resilience across the network while reducing the amount of water drawn from Ardingly Reservoir.
“While these short-term measures are necessary, I have been clear to South East Water's new CEO that we urgently need long-term investment in water infrastructure to ensure supply keeps pace with growing demand.
“We cannot continue relying on a network that has failed to keep up with demand, particularly as climate change increases the risk of prolonged dry spells. Yet no new reservoir has been completed in the South East since the 1970s!
“Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch recently described the privatisation of the water industry as a “success”. I strongly disagree.
“I will continue to hold water companies to account for their persistent failures. Residents deserve a reliable and affordable water supply. I want to see urgent action, backed by sustained long-term investment, to ensure our water infrastructure is fit for the future.”