People in Sussex urged to use water 'wisely' ahead of summer

Southern Water suggest people avoid regularly refilling their paddling pools and be careful when watering the plants.

Water usage is expected to rise from between 530 million to 560 million litres a day up to 660 million litres in the summer months.

The water provider invited The Argus to its headquarters in Yeoman Road, Worthing, to see the pressures it faces and how it ensures the South East region always has a steady supply in every home.

Southern Water is urging people to use water "wisely"

Simon Fluendy, press officer for Southern Water, said: “I think one thing people struggle to get their head around is that it is a finite resource, we think that we’re on an island surrounded by water and have got more than we need.

“There really is a finite amount of fresh drinking water for our customers. Our population base keeps on growing, people moving down to the South East in new houses.

“We rely on the ground catching water so if that gets concreted over, that water often will end up in our sewage system rather than the aquifer which is when you get those storm releases.

Southern Water is working with developers to ensure water is able to soak into the ground and flow into underground streams

“This part of the world in particular needs to have a grown-up conversation about our relationship with water because what we’re doing is not sustainable for the environment.

“We have got to find ways of using less water and use it wisely.”

Southern Water is trying to spread the message of not wasting water by having school visits to “help the next generation understand”.

£1.7 million was set aside for a rainscape at Wild Park in Brighton

It is also working with developers to ensure water is able to soak into the ground and flow into underground streams rather than through sewer drainage and out to sea.

One of these improvements can be seen at the £1.7 million allocated for a rainscape at Wild Park in Lewes Road, Brighton, which can hold water during heavy rainfall, slows water down and holds it closer to the surface which "copies natural processes".

Paul Riordan, logistics operational manager for Southern Water, said: “We have just got to work with people to understand the value of water, knowing that just because you turn your tap on, it doesn’t make it cheap.

A flash flood in Worthing last month following heavy rainfall

“We want people to understand the true value of water.

“Outside of that, it’s working with developers to look at other ways rather than just using concrete or paving driveways so we can get this slow release of water into the underground streams so we can take it back out.”

Southern Water has added a fleet of tankers which can hold up 30,000 litres and will allow water to be moved to areas that need it in emergencies.

West Beach in Lancing saw several pipe bursts from October to December which caused flooding

It will also serve areas that see pipe bursts such as Orient Road in Lancing which burst several times between October and December last year.

Paul added: “What the tankers could do for that is go to an area and put more pressure back into the network by using those onboard pumps. Or we can use those tankers from one network to another if it's needed.

“The tankers can also help with drought alleviation. We want to encourage customers to use water in a slightly better way.”