Water is returning to more than 30,000 homes in East Sussex after a main burst three days ago.
Southern Water said that supplies were “gradually being restored” in St Leonards-on-Sea and Hastings in an update on Sunday afternoon, with about 32,500 properties affected.
However, 3,500 homes in the east of Hastings will lose supply temporarily from Sunday afternoon to preserve water for the area of town including the hospital as the network is “recharged”, the company said.
It added it expects supplies in these areas to return on Monday, along with the rest of the network.
Southern Water said on Sunday afternoon: “This phased return of supplies to homes and businesses will see lower-lying areas and those nearest to Beauport coming back into supply first, with the remainder following as pressure increases in the pipes between now and tomorrow morning.
“Specifically, west and central areas of St Leonards-on-Sea, west Hastings and rural areas around Westfield should see supplies return gradually during the rest of Sunday.
“However it will take longer for areas north of Hollington and east Hastings and rural areas east of Hastings to return to supply; we expect these to have supply from Monday morning.”
Four bottled water stations have been set up and Southern Water is delivering bottled supplies to more than 6,000 customers on its priority services register. The company was also delivering water to vulnerable customers.
The burst was repaired on Saturday and the network was being recharged but the service has to be “restarted”, Southern Water said. Schools, a leisure centre and a theatre in the area have been forced to close.
The company added that the burst main is in Keeper’s Wood, near the A21, “deep in woodland”, which is making it difficult for crews and machinery to reach it.
The burst fell on the same weekend as the annual four-day Jack in the Green festival and the May Day bike run, when thousands of people usually flock to the seaside town.
The East Sussex county councillor Godfrey Daniel said the impact on businesses in Hastings will be “drastic”.
A spokesperson for Southern Water said on Saturday they were “deeply sorry” for the loss of supply and they had been “working around the clock to not only fix the issue” but also do all they can to help customers, especially those who are vulnerable.
As water starts to return, Southern Water said households might notice a “temporary change in what comes out their taps”. They should expect low water pressure and discoloured water.
