Proposed water pipe to serve 1066 country

The water company wants to build a 12km pipe from Darwell Reservoir, near Mountfield, to Beauport Water Supply Works (WSW)in St Leonards.

Southern Water was given permission by Rother District Council to replace the pipe in 2007 but, as it was not undertaken, a new application is being made with a new environmental impact assessment scoping report – prepared to support the firm’s request for a scoping opinion in relation to the potential for significant impacts arising from the development of the proposed scheme.

“To date, the existing pipeline from Darwell Reservoir to Beauport WSW has suffered from a number of major bursts and is coming to the end of its operational life,” the report says.

“The replacement of the pipeline is therefore of strategic importance to the continued security of drinking water supply to the Hastings area.

“The new pipeline will have a design life of 60 years and a design flow of 30 megalitres/day.”

The proposed pipeline will be a new high pressure polyethylene pipe with an outside diameter of approximately 710mm and is expected to be completed by 2019 with work commencing in spring 2017.

The pipe’s route roughly follows the same as the current one by going from the reservoir, through Mountfield, across the A2100, through Whatlington, around Sedlescombe Golf Club and Beauport Golf Club before reaching the WSW.

Four other routes were considered but ruled out for various reasons including ecological impacts and disruption to businesses.

Southern Water anticipates there will be several groups working concurrently during the construction phase, but it cannot give precise numbers.

Residents are encouraged to look at the new planned route to see where it will pass through the villages as it varies considerably in places from the original pipeline constructed many years ago.

It is assumed residents’ feedback will be welcomed as part of the consultation process.

Read the report here.

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