Since Storm Eunice in March 2022, I have been pressing SE Water, water regulators and the Sussex Resilience Forum to ensure that residents are better supported during major water loss incidents.

Storm Eunice highlighted a lack of resilience at SE Water pumping and treatment sites during power loss events.  When a small number of homes lost power, hundreds more lost water as the re-connection to water sites was not prioritised by UK Power Networks. 

I am assured that the utility companies are now working more closely to identify priority sites for reconnection during power loss but I want further assurance that SE Water is doing more to make their sites more resilient and improve services to residents who lose water supplies, whatever the reason.

Looking after residents involved more partnership working with parish and town councils, district councils and the Sussex Resilience Forum.  Further water loss events in 2022 indicated that more work still needs to be done.

You can find further information on the work I have been doing in this area, as well as copies of relevant correspondence, in the links below.