Burst Pipe Disrupts Water Supply in East Sussex on Christmas Day
A burst mains pipe in a woodland area north of Hastings caused significant disruption to water supplies in East Sussex on Christmas Day. Restoration work is ongoing following an initial repair as Southern Water addresses the issue.
The Fairlight reservoir, serving the area, was already at very low levels and had exhausted its reserves. The situation worsened due to a short power outage at the Brede water supply works.
Affected areas include Hastings postcodes TN34, TN35, TN37, and TN38, with customers at higher elevations more likely to lose water supply. Southern Water reported low pressure or intermittent supply for fewer than 100 customers in Hastings.
In response, Southern Water deployed tankers and set up bottled-water stations, including one at Pelham Place car park in Hastings. Additional water stations and tanker operations have been used to inject water back into the distribution network.
The incident follows a previous burst main in the woodland north of Hastings earlier in the week, complicating efforts to restore full service before Christmas. The region has experienced a history of water outages caused by bursts, including a notable four-day outage in May 2024. Infrastructure concerns have been flagged since 2007 due to ageing assets.
MP Helena Dollimore criticized Southern Water for its handling of the situation, urging faster action and calling for extra support for local pubs and restaurants affected by the disruption as well as accelerated restoration efforts.
Southern Water has described the disruption as temporary, apologized to customers, and urged residents to conserve water while reservoir levels remain low.
