Vital water network projects reach halfway stage

More than 11 kilometres of new water main have now been laid across East Sussex as two projects to improve the drinking water supply network approach the halfway stage.

Water-only supplier South East Water is currently carrying out two vital projects in the county to upgrade their network and keep customer taps flowing with top quality drinking water.

The first project, to lay around 17 kilometres of new pipeline connecting a treatment works at Bewl Water with fresh drinking water storage tanks near Wadhurst and Rotherfield, is at the mid-way point with just over 50 per cent of the required new main now laid.

The longest section of work within the highways, along the B2100 (Best Beech Hill and Wadhurst Road), is starting during the school half term. This will begin on Saturday 26 October, under a rolling road closure, starting at the crossroads junction with Tidebrook Road and Best Beech Lane. The remainder of the pipeline to be installed on this project will then take place across private land.

The second scheme, to improve water quality in the Heathfield area by replacing 6.5 kilometres of water main, is currently ahead of schedule with more than four kilometres now installed. Work is currently taking place on Cade Street and Battle Road under temporary traffic lights.

Desmond Brown, Head of Engineering for South East Water, said: “It’s great to see these projects progressing well, as these are crucial elements of our plan to improve our infrastructure in East Sussex and ensure we are able to continue supplying top quality drinking water to our customers.

“We’d like to thank the communities around these two projects for their patience and support as we carry out this vital work to improve their water supply.”

The community can keep up to date with progress by visiting southeastwater.co.uk/eastsussex.