In response to recent letters in The Argus about Sussex's current water shortage, I strongly disagree with suggestions there has been plenty of rain recently.
In fact, we have seen the second driest winter since 1904, with seven consecutive months in which rainfall has been below the normal amount.
As a result, our natural water resources are well below the levels we would want them to be, resulting in the warnings we have been issuing.
Our investment over the years in new water mains, transfer pipelines and pumping stations, is paying dividends and enabling us to make far better use of the water which is available.
Without the huge investment we have put in over the last ten years, we would be in a far more serious situation than we currently are, faced with the major lack of rainfall we are experiencing.
Ultimately, however, we do rely on nature. We need winter rainfall to top up natural underground sources, rivers and reservoirs over the winter and spring period. Unfortunately it simply has not arrived this year.
-Steve Salter, Operations Director, Southern Water
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