We’re planning a multi-million-pound investment to create a more resilient water supply network within Wealden.
In a direct response to recent incidents, we are investing £12.1 million installing approximately 17 kilometres of new pipeline between our water treatment works at Bewl and our drinking water storage tanks at Wadhurst and Rotherfield.
Along with upgrades to our Bewl Water Treatment Works, this project will provide a more resilient network, allowing us to maintain customer supplies more readily during unexpected disruptions.
Work is expected to begin in April, with advanced vegetation clearance beginning in February.
Our teams will work as quickly and as safely as possible to minimise disruption.
As well as this project, we are also planning works in Rother, to install approximately 1.6 kilometres of new pipeline between our storage tanks in Flimwell and Bedgebury; planning upgrades to our water treatment works at Bewl Water; and will be replacing approximately 6.5 kilometres of water main in the Punnetts Town area, all as part of a wider plan to enhance resilience of the network in the area.
Updates will be made to this page as work progresses.
Pipe route
The project will take place in two main sections, with teams working on both at the same time:
Section 1: Wadhurst to Rotherfield – This phase of the project involves laying approximately nine kilometres of new water main between our treated drinking water storage tanks at Wadhurst and Rotherfield.
Section 2: Wadhurst to Bewl Water Treatment Works – Laying approximately eight kilometres of new water main between our Wadhurst storage tank and our treatment works at Bewl.
The pipe route can be downloaded via this webpage. You can view the whole route, or each of the above two sections.
Traffic management and diversion routes
While most of the work will be in private land, this project will require us to either cross or work within several roads and public rights of way.
The affected roads are shown below. Please click the road to see the diversion route.
Roads marked 'Road Crossing' signify short duration closures while we cross from one side of the road to another. Those marked 'Road Closure' denote longer works along a length of the carriageway.
- Buckland Hill(opens in a new tab) - road crossing in early July 2024
- High Cross(opens in a new tab)
- Lake Street(opens in a new tab) - We'll be crossing Lake Street near to the junction with Little Trodgers Lane in late May, early June 2024
- Mayfield Lane(opens in a new tab) - This road closure will be from early February 2025 to early March 2025
- Monks Lane(opens in a new tab) - This road closure will be from early to mid-June 2024
- Newbury Lane (1)(opens in a new tab)
- Newbury Lane (2)(opens in a new tab)
- Old Station Road(opens in a new tab) - This road closure will be from late July to mid-August 2024
- Rotherhurst Lane(opens in a new tab) - road crossing in mid-July 2024
- Sheriff's Lane(opens in a new tab) - This road closure will be mid-April to late May 2024
- Sleeper Stile Road(opens in a new tab) - This road closure will be early to mid-August 2024
- The Slade(opens in a new tab)
- Whitegates Lane(opens in a new tab) - This road closure will be mid to late July 2024
- Woods Green(opens in a new tab) - This road closure will be mid-June to to early July 2024
FAQs
This new pipe will connect our water treatment works at Bewl Water with our fresh drinking water storage tanks in Wadhurst and Rotherfield.
Combined with upgrades at the Bewl treatment works and at our storage tank in Wadhurst, this will provide us with greater flexibility to move water around our network and improve our resilience in the area.
The project is also in response to a requirement to prevent the transfer of a non-native invasive species, zebra mussels.
This project will provide us with greater flexibility to move water around our network at times of disruption and so this does mean that when there are supply issues, it will be easier for us to reroute water from around the network.
Along with upgrades to the storage tank in Wadhurst and our treatment works at Bewl Water, this will mean we will be better able to keep water flowing around the network in East Sussex.
We are finalising the programme of works. Advance clearance of vegetation has started, with construction scheduled to begin early to mid-April. The project is expected to take around 18 months in total.
The majority of work is taking place in private land. The new pipeline will be installed using a combination of horizontal directional drilling and traditional trenching techniques. Horizontal directional drilling involves excavating two pits and tunnelling the new pipe underground between these two points.
In addition, rather than working from one end of the scheme through to the other, we will have multiple teams working on two sections at the same time.
Section 1: Wadhurst to Rotherfield – Approximately nine kilometres
Section 2: Wadhurst to Bewl Water Treatment Works – Approximately eight kilometres
Teams will be working from 8.00am to 6.00pm on weekdays, and 8.00am to 1.00pm on any required Saturdays.
As we install the new main, there will be several short closures as we cross a road, and some longer closures as we work in the carriageway.
Buckland Hill
High Cross
Lake Street
Mayfield Lane / Best Beech Hill / Wadhurst Road
Monks Lane
Newbury Lane
Old Station Road
Rotherhurst Lane
Sheriff’s Lane
Sleeper Stile Road / Cousley Wood Lane
The Slade
Woods Green
Whitegates Lane
Three Oaks Lane
Dates and durations will be advised closer to commencement of the works.
The diversion routes, agreed by East Sussex County Council Highways, will be clearly signposted for the duration of the works. For those requiring diversion routes, these are available on this webpage.
While we know traffic management can be disruptive, the safety of both the public and our workforce is a priority. Road closures will be kept to the shortest duration possible to minimise impact to customers and motorists.
When creating a diversion, we are required to offer a route which follows the same class (or above) of the road we are closing. For example, when we close a B road, the diversion needs to follow other B roads or above.
We are aware that local residents may know quicker ways to navigate around a diversion route. However, we do not encourage this, again for safety, and advise all traffic to follow the official diversion route at all times.
Road signs will be placed in advance to reinforce this message and advise of the diversion route. Signage will remain in place for the duration of each road closure, and we urge people not to tamper with these.
We work in phases along the road, usually 50-100m sections, to maintain access for residents and businesses. When using the trenching method, we will excavate the section of road, lay the pipe and return the working area to its original state before we move to the next section. This may mean that the direction you take to enter or leave your property may change as we move along the road.
Bin collections and deliveries will still be able to access properties for the duration of our work, they will need to follow the diversion routes as signposted throughout. Our team on site will be able to support these if necessary by ensuring the excavations are safe to cross.
This will depend on the nature of the road and the surface. We will usually only resurface where we have excavated. However, if the road surface breaks up when we excavate, or if there are existing joints or the end of the carriageway in close proximity we may resurface beyond our works.
No. Once we have completed construction in one area, we will return the site to its original state and remove any temporary structures that were needed during the works. This may take time if, for example, we are working in a field and need to plant seed in the appropriate season to encourage growth. There may be small markers and fenced areas to allow access to the network for maintenance, but the majority of the landscape will be returned to how it was before we started.
We have already started to clear vegetation such as hedgerows to reduce the risk of nesting birds being present before the nesting bird season begins. All vegetation clearance is being undertaken with supervision by an ecologist to ensure no protected species are harmed by the works under the terms of two protected species licences prescribed by Natural England for Great Crested Newts and Dormice.
Trees that do not need to be removed but are next to the works will be protected with track matting and tree protection fencing to minimise the risk of damage to tree roots. All hedgerows and trees that are being removed will be replanted in the next available planting season following completion of the works.
There will be a short interruption to supply when we need to connect the new pipeline to the existing main. However, we will provide 48 hours notice prior to this happening, and whenever possible will avoid peak times of water usage.
Customers with additional needs be it a disability, mental health or financial concerns can sign up to our Priority Services Register to help us understand how we can help you. More information can be found at southeastwater.co.uk/priority.
A dedicated webpage – southeastwater.co.uk/wealden – will be updated as work progresses, but if you have any concerns during the work, the staff on site will be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to speak to us direct, please call our Customer Technical Centre on 0333 000 1100 or email us at customerservices@southeastwater.co.uk
To register for free text or email updates about work in your area, visit aqualerter.southeastwater.co.uk/manage-alerts(opens in a new tab)
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