Several households in Hastings faced disruptions on Christmas Day due to a burst water main, resulting in a loss of running water. Approximately 100 customers in the affected area, including postcodes TN34, TN35, TN37, and TN38, reported low pressure or a complete lack of water supply. Southern Water responded by establishing a bottled water station and delivering supplies directly to those in need. The incident was caused by low water levels at Fairlight Reservoir and a power outage at Brede Water Supply Works.
Southern Water provided an update stating that efforts were ongoing to restore water supply in Hastings to normal levels. While both supply works were operating efficiently, the company acknowledged the potential for further disruptions. It may take several days for the drinking water storage reservoirs to replenish to their usual levels. A bottled water station was opened at Pelham Place Car Park in Hastings as a precautionary measure.
Helena Dollimore, the Labour MP for Hastings and Rye, expressed frustration at the situation, attributing the town’s ordeal to Southern Water’s shortcomings. During the outage, Tania Flasck, the director of water operations at Southern Water, assured residents that all efforts were being made to resolve the water supply issues promptly. Customers were urged to use water judiciously to aid in the swift replenishment of the reservoir and minimize the risk of further interruptions.