A burst water main discovered in woodland north of Hastings has raised concerns about potential supply disruptions for households in the town and surrounding areas on Christmas Eve. Southern Water is working on repairs, and while they "cautiously" estimate any water loss would be "limited," they are preparing for the worst-case scenario of a shutdown at 8:00 PM GMT, though they expect it to return by Christmas morning. As a precaution, bottled water is being delivered to approximately 15,000 vulnerable customers, and the company urges others not to use excessive water or stockpile.
Southern Water is implementing enhanced precautions, drawing on lessons learned from a significant supply failure in May 2024 that affected over 32,000 properties. They are ready to open bottled water stations and have tankers on standby, including potential deployment to Conquest Hospital and nursing homes. The company's director of water operations stated that repairs were on track but would take several hours to bring the affected treatment works back to full operation. In a severe scenario, over 50,000 properties could be impacted, though they hope to restore supplies during any prolonged outage.
Local officials have expressed anxiety about the situation, with Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore emphasizing that residents will judge Southern Water by their actions. Community leaders have offered support for potential water stations, reflecting the spirit of Hastings. A local councillor described the prospect of a Christmas without water as "unthinkable," while a business improvement district representative expressed a degree of confidence that the issue would be resolved and that "business as usual" continues as long as the supply remains on. The MP also voiced anger about the potential impact on local businesses like pubs, restaurants, and hotels, while asserting that Hastings remains open for business. This particular main has burst multiple times in recent years, though only once previously causing a supply failure. Southern Water has accelerated a £50 million, three-year project to replace the pipe, which is set to begin in January.