Hundreds of Sussex residents still without water or with low pressure after leak a week ago

Hundreds of residents living in Sussex currently have no water or low pressure.

Southern Water customers have been impacted in Winchelsea, Camber, Point Hill and Rye.

It comes after a leak near its Udimore reservoir last Friday (22 September).

Since then customers in the area have experienced intermittent problems with their water supply.

Southern Water says the area is rural so locating the leak has been complicated.

At around 1pm on Friday 29 September, around 950 customers in Point Hill were still affected.

Director for Water at Southern Water, Tim McMahon, said: "We’re sorry that customers in Winchelsea, Camber, Point Hill and Rye are still affected by water supply issues today.  

"Although customers in Winchelsea, Rye Harbour and the majority of Camber should now be back in supply, some customers in Rye centre and small areas of Camber may still be experiencing intermittent supplies.  

"We’re boosting our tankering operation in the area so this should start to stabilise from 12pm onwards.  

"Customers in Point Hill that still have no water or intermittent supplies, we are putting in place a different tankering plan which we expect will restore supplies today."

Mr McMahon said the repair to the leak will take until at least Sunday - after which the supply to customers should be back to what it used to be.

Among those affected is The Mermaid Inn in Rye. Owner Judith Blincow says it's caused "every form of inconvenience you could possibly imagine".

The inn has had to close since Monday which has led to a loss of income for the business.

Two bottled water stations have been set up at Western Car Park, New Lydd Road, Camber, TN31 7RB and Rye Station, TN31 7AW.

Bottled water has been delivered to people on the priority services register.

Anybody who needs to be prioritised can be added to the register by calling 0330 303 0368.

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