Water leaks discovered in Brighton despite hose ban in Sussex

Jan Prest said her friend spotted a leak at the end of Coldean Lane and was concerned by Southern Water’s lack of response after reporting it.

Jan said: “The reporting process was robotic and difficult.”

Alison Ghani also reported a leak at a Lewes Road shopping center but said the problem didn’t appear to have been fixed.

It comes as South East Water customers have enforced a hosepipe ban in certain parts of Sussex, including Eastbourne, Peacehaven and Seaford, following prolonged dry spells.

A Southern Water spokesman said: “We understand that leaks are even more of a focus at a time when we are asking customers to use their water wisely.

“We fix hundreds of leaks every day – 22,500 in the last year alone, work day and night to find and fix pipes as quickly as possible and they need to be prioritized by severity.

“Visible leaks are often not as severe as hidden leaks on larger pipes buried deep underground.

“We would like to thank all customers who have reported leaks they have discovered. We’re investing heavily in smart network technology that helps us locate leaks faster, but customers still provide an important service by alerting us.”

A hose line ban applies to South East Water customers in Sussex and neighboring Kent

A drought has been declared across Sussex as southern and eastern England continue to face dry conditions.

However, Southern Water has ruled out the prospect of an impending hosepipe ban for its customers in the county.

The company spokesman said: “While no restrictions are required at this time, we remain in close contact with government, regulators and environmental stakeholders and are constantly reviewing the position.”

Water leaks can be reported to Southern Water on their website or by calling 0300 820 999.