Southern Water: Supplies being 'gradually restored' to residents - LIVE
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Southern Water says it is working ‘around the clock’ to resolve the issue caused by a burst water main.
Follow live updates as they happen below.
Southern Water supply issues
Key Events
- Southern Water announced that customers would likely lose their water supply on Thursday (May 2) afternoon.
- Staff have been 'working around the clock' to resolve the issue.
- Customers are expected to still be without water for the duration of the weekend.
Heavy traffic
Traffic is congested on the A259 as people queue to collect water bottles from the station on Sea Road.
AA Traffic News said: “Traffic heavier than normal due to burst water main on A259 Bexhill Road Westbound around The Retail Park. Reported there is a burst water main in a woodland area and people are having to travel to water bottle stations to get water.”
Location of burst main revealed
The burst took place yesterday in a small area of woodland known as Keepers Wood, which is situated on land between Beauport Golf and Country Club and Kent Street, at the A21 near Sedlescombe.
Read the full story here: https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/hastings-water-supply-latest-this-is-the-location-of-the-burst-main-that-has-caused-all-the-problems-4615374
Queues at bottled water stations
Huge queues are building at bottled water stations as Southern Water warns people to ‘be aware of traffic and waiting times’.
See all of our pictures here: https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/hastings-water-supply-latest-in-pictures-queues-and-traffic-congestion-as-people-scramble-to-get-bottled-water-4615243
School closures
Some schools in St Leonards have told children to stay at home amid the water supply issues.
Among those closed are: West St Leonards Primary Academy, Churchwood Primary and St Paul’s C of E Academy.
St Leonards Academy is unaffected and open today, as is Robsack Wood Primary, St Leonards CEP Academy, in Collinswood Drive, and Silverdale Primary.
Video shows location of burst water main
Southern Water has released a video showing just how remote the location of the burst main is.
St Leonards-on-Sea & Hastings Burst Location
This is "St Leonards-on-Sea & Hastings Burst Location" by Southern Water on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
'Disrupted into Sunday'
A text from Southern Water to customers reads: “Our teams have been working through the night to get the site ready to make repairs today, which means you will experience no water from this morning.
“It is likely your supply will be disrupted into Sunday.
“We are delivering bottled water to vulnerable customers on our Priority Services Register. Bottled water stations are open at Asda, Battle Rd, TN37 7AA Tesco, Church Wood Dr, TN38 9RB & Sea Road, TN38 0AG. Please check our website for updates.”
Burst water main located
The burst water main has been located in an area of ‘dense woodland’.
Staff at Southern Water have reportedly worked through the night to get machinery and equipment ready to start making the repair today.
Supply likely to be 'disrupted into Sunday'
Southern Water said its teams are ‘working around-the-clock’ to fix supply issues in St Leonards and Hastings following a burst water main – but disruption could continue into the weekend. https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/southern-water-st-leonards-and-hastings-water-supply-issues-could-continue-into-the-weekend-4614983
Bottled water stations are open
Bottled water stations are open at the following locations:
- Asda, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 7AA
- Tesco - Church Wood Dr, St Leonards, Hastings, Saint Leonards-on-sea TN38 9RB
- Sea Road, Hastings, TN38 OAG
A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “We are continuing to deliver bottled water to our vulnerable customers on our Priority Services Register.
“Our helpline number for vulnerable customers needing access to bottled water as a priority, or for other customer queries relating to the supply interruption, is 0330 303 0368.”
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