A village is to benefit from a major upgrade to its water supply infrastructure.
Cocking will see 18 months of work begin in September as part of a £2.3 million scheme to improve the resilience and reliability of its water network.
Southern Water plans to replace ageing cast-iron mains with modern plastic pipes throughout the village and surrounding areas.
The project is part of the company’s broader £100 million investment across the region, aimed at cutting leakage through better pressure management, smart meter installation and finding and fixing hidden leaks.
Tania Flasck, director of water operations at Southern Water, said: "This work will help strengthen our water network in Cocking and provide a more resilient water supply for local customers for years to come.
"By replacing ageing water mains with new, modern pipes, we can reduce the risk of leaks and bursts while improving the reliability of our service.
"We understand that work of this nature can cause some disruption, and we are committed to keeping residents informed throughout the project.
Read more:
-
West Sussex village to benefit from £2.3 million Southern Water network overhaul
-
New South East Water chief executive sets out turnaround plan
-
MP criticises water company after hundreds left without supplies
"We are here to listen to any concerns, answer questions and work closely with the local community to minimise the impact wherever possible.
"We would encourage anyone who would like to find out more about the scheme to come along to our drop-in session and speak to our teams."
The project is due for completion in February 2028 and will affect several roads, including Woodcote Lane, Causeway, Heyshott Road, Bell Lane, Bugs Hill, Church Lane and parts of the A286.
To keep the community informed, Southern Water will host a drop-in session at Cocking Village Hall on Bell Lane on August 5 from 4pm to 7pm.
Leakage has fallen for the third year in a row, with a 12 per cent reduction recorded across Southern Water’s network so far this year.
The company credits the improvement to proactive measures like water mains replacement, with teams working around the clock using new technology, and specially trained dogs, to find and fix leaks more quickly.
Southern Water said the planned replacements will further support its efforts to provide reliable water service across the South East.
Share