Southern Water failed to replace the pipework after being given permission 17 years ago to upgrade the system that eventually burst
Southern Water have apologised after a burst main caused 30,000 people to go without water(Image credit: Getty Images)
Over 30,000 homes were left without any water supplies after a pipe described as "outworn" was never replaced.
Southern Water were granted planning permission to replace the water pipe 17 years ago but failed to act on this causing homeowners Hastings and St Leonards in East Sussex to go without water for almost a week.
This forced residents to rely on emergency bottle water stands, water tankers and even sea water with the company now apologising for the distress caused.
Homeowners forced to use sea water to flush toilets
Over 30,000 properties in Hastings and St Leonards were left without any water supply.
A pipe burst on Thursday 2nd May in what was described by the company as “deep woodland” in Keeper’s Wood, meaning homeowners were forced to gather water from the sea to get their toilets to flush.
Southern Water spent almost a week repairing the burst meaning water tankers had to be drafted in as well as water bottle stations being used to provide drinking water to over 6,000 customers on the company's priority services register.
Homeowners were forced to rely on sea water to flush their toilets (Image credit: Getty Images)
Southern Water given permission to improve pipes 17 years ago
In 2007 Southern Water were given permission by Rother District Council to modernise the pipework in order to "improve the security of drinking water supply to the Hastings area".
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The pipework amounted to 12km but the work was never carried out and it was this pipework that eventually burst.
Southern Water's Head of Customer Service Ashley Marshman told ITV News: "We are aware of reports of this planning application. What I will say is our focus right now is to get the remaining customers back in supply.
"As part of our pre-incident investigation, we will be looking into this and we'll report back to our customers on what that was all about."
Hastings Town Centre Manager John Bownas said: "I was gobsmacked, absolutely gobsmacked.
"There's going to be huge questions asked now as to why, 15 years ago, a problem was identified and nothing was done about it."
'We will explore compensation options'
Southern Water has said it will investigate the matter and has apologised to customers.
A spokesperson for the company said: "Once we are confident that all our customers have their water supply restored and stable, we will explore compensation options.
"We have already committed to going beyond our regulatory and statutory obligations in compensating the businesses affected, on a goodwill basis."
The company said all water supplies in the affected areas have now been re-established.
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
