PHOTOS: Some East Sussex Properties Still Without Water After Six Days

Southern Water says top to 2,000 properties in St Helen's and St Helen's Wood could still be without water until lunchtime today (May 7) following a burst main last Thursday (May 2).

In a statement on their website, posted at 8pm on Monday, May 6, they said:

Around 26,000 properties in St Leonards and Hastings, which lost water supply after Thursday night's burst water main, have now had mains supply restored, though they may experience reduced pressure for a time.

Of the remaining 6,500 properties affected, a significant number are expected to be back on supply later on Monday evening. Newgate reservoir, whose temporary closure had led to interruptions, has now re-opened and pressure is building back to normal in the system.

However, up to 2,000 properties in parts of St Helen’s and St Helen’s Wood, which are normally served by the Fairlight reservoir, are unlikely to see supply restored until tomorrow morning or lunchtime. This is because the reservoir is not yet sufficiently stocked to meet the demand.

As areas are being brought back onto supply Southern Water is redeploying its fleet of 24 tankers to support those areas still without supply.

Supplies have been assured to enable all schools and colleges in the area to open as normal tomorrow, and this arrangement is currently on track.

The burst main was located in an area of dense woodland, which Southern Water say made it especially difficult to access. Around 50 trees were felled in order for them to be able to work on the burst pipe.

The company say they've since delivered over a million litres of water two vulnerable people in the area, 'making this incident one of the biggest for bottled water operations' they';ve ever handled. 

Bottled water stations are still open at ASDA and Tesco in St Leonards and Sea Road in Hastings.