More Sussex homes without water as heatwave continues

Bottled water collection points have been set up by South East Water

More homeowners in Sussex have had water supplies cut off or restricted, after 300 householders were left without tap water for five days.

South East Water said supplies were restored overnight to the areas of West Sussex which had been without water since Friday.

But the company said other customers in East Sussex woke up on Wednesday to "low pressure or no water".

The water supplier said it was setting up bottled water stations.

'Horrendous'

The latest problems are hitting customers in Rotherfield, Crowborough, Mayfield, Hadlow Down and Five Ashes, as well as some in Heathfield.

Gary Walker, from Warninglid, said he had been forced to "manually remove waste from the toilet and bury it in the garden".

Di Holwood, from Bolnore near Haywards Heath, said it had been "horrendous" living without water since Friday, but her supply had returned at about 02:00 BST.

"I have no confidence this water is going to stay on for more than a few hours."

Klara Verrell's nursery in Haywards Heath had to close due to the lack of water

Klara Verrell said Perfect Start Nursery, where she works, had to close down due to the water shortage.

She said: "It's not just about having bottled water, because it needs to be hot water that children wash their hands with. Some of the older children might wash their hands 20 times a day.

"Without running water we just can't manage it."

MP for Mid Sussex Mims Davies said the issue was "embarrassing" for South East Water

Mims Davies, MP for Mid Sussex, described the water shortage and lack of communication from South East Water as "shambolic".

She said: "We all recognise water companies will have difficult times but this feels like very poor communication.

"It's been shambolic and diabolical. People have arrived at water stations to find no water there, no details what time they're open or closed. This could've been much better. It's been absolutely abominable and it's been embarrassing for South East Water."

Customers are being urged to avoid the use of hoses and to keep water for drinking, cooking and hygeine

Customers in Haywards Heath, Cuckfield, Warninglid, Slaugham and Bolney in West Sussex saw water supplies return overnight.

Steve Andrews, head of central operations for South East Water, apologised and said: "Supplies have been restored overnight and we are more hopeful we will be able to maintain those supplies throughout the day.

"We are continuing to ask customers to only use water for essential use."

He said more than 150 million litres of extra water were being pumped into the network as the UK heatwave continues.

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