New pumps will move water inland

Work gets under way next month on a £1.25m scheme to move water from the coast to the mid-Sussex area to combat emergency shortages or drought.

New pumps and equipment are to be installed at Poverty Bottom pumping station, near Bishopstone, East Sussex.

And a new 2.3 mile (3.7km) pipeline will be built to pump water to Firle reservoir on top of the South Downs.

From there, it will flow by gravity via existing underground mains to supply the Ringmer and Burgess Hill areas.

"We can already transfer water from the north of Sussex to the south, so this scheme helps complete a vital section of a comprehensive water grid," said Graham Webb, South East Water's infrastructure development manager.

"It will also mean we have a more secure supply of water for customers, which is essential when there are emergency incidents on other parts of our network, or even droughts."

The work is expected to take five months to complete.