By Isle of Wight Observer
Southern Water has rejected claims circulating on social media that it refused permission for firefighters to use water, during the recent blaze on Headon Warren.
The company said sustained, high‑volume abstraction from a hydrant, supplied by the Headon Warren reservoir, caused levels to fall to a critically low point. At that stage, Southern Water worked with the fire service to identify alternative hydrants, and supplies fed by different reservoirs.
A spokesman said this was not about restricting access to water, but about ensuring firefighters could continue drawing the large volumes needed to tackle the wildfire while protecting customer supplies and water quality.
Southern Water remained in contact with the fire service throughout the incident, and took part in multi‑agency calls.
“Our teams supported the Fire Service’s response to the Headon Warren wildfire, and did not refuse access to water supplies at any stage,” the spokesman said.
“We worked closely with firefighters to explore alternative hydrants and water sources to continue supporting firefighting efforts, while ensuring our customers’ water supply was not impacted.”
Mal Butler