To confirm that you’d like to permanently disconnect your water supply, you must write to South West Water, PO Box 4762, Worthing, BN11 9NT.
The request should include your full name, the address of the property to be disconnected including the postcode, the meter serial number (if there's a meter), and a daytime contact telephone number.
We'll be in touch within 10 working days of receiving your application, to confirm that the disconnection has been scheduled. The work will be completed within 20 workings days from receipt of your original request.
We don’t charge for disconnections, but if you do decide to re-connect it in the future there will be a connection charge. Connection charges are listed on our Building & Development Charging Arrangements page.
Our In your area page will tell you if there’s any work, that we're already aware of, that could be causing no water.
There could be a few reasons for having no water:
- Emergency work on a burst main
- Planned work where we’ve notified you in advance
- An airlock in your system following work
- An issue with your internal plumbing
- Neighbours carrying out work on a joint supply
If you can't find anything on our In your area page, you may want to check with neighbours to confirm if it is just your supply affected. If the issue is affecting your neighbours, it may be that we’re not aware of a problem on our main supply. Please call our Services Helpline on 0344 346 2020 to report this.
Airlocks
To check for airlocks, turn your internal stop tap on and off 3 times to release any air whilst the cold kitchen tap is open. You should also check that your external stop tap is open if it is safe to do so.
We've put together a handy guide to keeping fish that explains eveything you need to take into consideration to make your tap water fit for fish.
But we recommend you speak to your local pet store or aquatic centre, as they'll know any further adjustments that will need to be made for specific fish species.
Happy fish-keeping!
No, we don’t add fluoride to drinking water in our area. For more information on fluoride in your water please see our factsheet.
Your internal stop tap is usually under your kitchen sink or where your supply pipe enters your home. If you can’t find it, or it isn’t working, we’d recommend that you ask a plumber for help. You can use our handy guide to choose the right one.
Your external stop tap will be near your property boundary, normally in the pavement outside (where you meter is, if you have one). If you can't find it, just contact us and we'll be able to look it up for you.
Many insurers require you to know where your stop taps are and how to operate them in the case on an emergency.
For the location of your private pipework, you can contact your local District Council or check your house deeds.
For maps of the location of public sewers, disposal mains, lateral drains and water mains which we're responsible for, please email Source for Searches providing the postcode of the property.
Solicitors and conveyancers looking for a water and drainage search (CON29DW) can find more information at Source for Searches.
Some of the noises you may experience, and why, are:
- Air in the pipework, faulty taps or ball valves and loose pipework can lead to banging, hammering or juddering sounds
- A leak on a pipe can lead to a 'rushing' noise, often more noticeable at night
- A faulty ball valve can produce a 'rushing' or whistling noise.
If the sound is worrying you, use our handy guide to find a plumber. They'll be able to find the cause of the problem and advise you on what can be done to fix it.
We use blue paint to mark locations that need attention. Sometimes it's the location of a stop tap or meter that needs maintenance work. Other times it's because there's a leak on the pipe and that cover is the access point for repairing it - you'll probably find other blue paint or yellow chalk nearby which marks other reference points for the repair.
Other utilities use different coloured paint and chalk to mark locations of their apparatus for similar reasons.