I should like to enlarge on my letter (January 4) regarding distillation plants and also reply to Adam Trimingham's analysis (The Argus, January 25).

Adam thinks we might have to wait as long as 20 years for distillation plants to be built in Sussex, as they would be too costly at present.

I beg to differ. After the initial cost of installation, the upkeep would be comparatively minimal compared to all the grandiose schemes our water board has in mind to bring water to the South but which would be only a temporary stopgap.

We need a permanent solution to this problem now. It's no good praying for rain or employing a witch doctor with a stick.

Unfortunately, global warming is here to stay, as are the substantial rises in the water rates to cover all this extra expense.

-Ron Wood, Brighton