Key Takeaways
- Thousands of households in Hastings may face a Christmas with no water due to a burst mains pipe
- Southern Water has warned that households may begin losing water from the evening of Christmas Eve
- Emergency bottled water deliveries are being dispatched to vulnerable households
- Customers are advised not to use more water than usual and not to stockpile it
- The burst pipe is not the first incident of its kind in the area, with multiple pipes previously listed as "aged assets prone to failure"
Introduction to the Crisis
Thousands of households in Hastings are facing the possibility of a Christmas with no water after a mains pipe burst in a woodland north of the town. Southern Water, the company responsible for the water supply, has warned that households may begin losing water from the evening of Christmas Eve as the system is rapidly losing supply. This has led to a sense of urgency, with emergency bottled water deliveries being dispatched to vulnerable households from Tuesday evening. The company has also advised customers not to use more water than usual and not to stockpile it, as this could exacerbate the situation.
The Cause of the Problem
The burst mains pipe, which was discovered on Tuesday morning, is the root cause of the problem. Southern Water has been working tirelessly to fix the pipe before supplies cut out over Christmas. However, this is not the first time that burst pipes have caused an outage in the area. In May 2024, Hastings residents were left without water for four days after a pipe, which was flagged for replacement in 2007 but never fixed, burst. This incident highlights the need for urgent attention to be paid to the town’s aging water infrastructure. Multiple pipes in the Hastings area have previously been listed by the company as "aged assets prone to failure", which suggests that the company has been aware of the potential risks for some time.
Reaction from Local Authorities
The Labour MP for Hastings, Rye and the Villages, Helena Dollimore, has expressed her frustration and concern over the situation. She has criticized Southern Water for its failure to invest in its crumbling infrastructure, preferring instead to pay large dividends to its shareholders. Dollimore has pressed the company to act quickly to open as many water stations as possible, deliver directly to those on the priority services list, and provide extra water to pubs, restaurants, and hotels. Her immediate priority is protecting residents, particularly the most vulnerable, and supporting local businesses at this critical time. She has also vowed to hold Southern Water to account and ask the necessary questions to ensure that the situation is resolved as quickly as possible.
Response from Southern Water
The managing director of water at Southern Water, Tim McMahon, has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the burst pipe. He has explained that the company is taking precautions to protect the supply to homes and businesses in Hastings and has advised customers to be mindful of their water usage. McMahon has emphasized that the company’s teams will fix the burst main as quickly as possible and has thanked customers for their understanding. However, the company’s response has been criticized by some, who argue that it has not done enough to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place. The recent failure at one of its treatment centres, which caused a spill of hundreds of millions of tiny plastic beads on Camber Sands and Hastings beaches, has also raised concerns about the company’s ability to manage its infrastructure effectively.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The situation in Hastings is a serious one, and it is essential that Southern Water takes immediate action to resolve the issue. The company must work to fix the burst pipe as quickly as possible and ensure that vulnerable households have access to emergency bottled water. Customers must also be mindful of their water usage and avoid stockpiling water, which could exacerbate the situation. The incident highlights the need for urgent attention to be paid to the town’s aging water infrastructure, and it is hoped that Southern Water will take steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The reaction from local authorities, including Helena Dollimore, will be crucial in ensuring that the company is held to account and that the needs of residents and businesses are prioritized.
