SOUTHERN Water has promised its customers that they should finally see their water return to normal. 

With water supplies first going down on Wednesday, February 15, it has been a long week for Southern Water customers in Winchester, Southampton and Eastleigh. 

Now the company has reassured residents that their water should return to normal as of Sunday, February 19. 

READ MORE: Southern Water: No water supply in Winchester again

From 5pm on February 18, Southern Water reported that roughly 3,500 customers were still without water.

The utility company has been making deliveries of bottled water to vulnerable customers and on February 19, three bottled water stations still remained open, including Cantell School, Violet Road, Southampton, SO16 3G; South Winchester Park and Ride, Winchester, SO21 2FG; and IBM Hursley, Hursley Park Road, Winchester, SO21 2JN. 

Southern Water said: "During routine maintenance on our water site, while we were refurbishing a filter some ‘special washed sand’ made its way into the next section of the water supply process. While ‘special washed sand’ might sound strange, it’s an industry-approved product and used as standard by many other water companies.

"At no time did the filters become contaminated, and in fact they are not vulnerable to contamination. They are used to filter small particles from the water prior to disinfection.

SEE MORE: Southern Water: MP wants urgent debate over loss of water

"As the system is designed to do, our monitors detected what had happened and immediately shut down the site. The unfiltered water and small amount of filter media were contained well before it got anywhere close to customer supply."

While water returns to homes, customers can expect discoloured water, which is normal and is usually due to air trapped in the pipes but the water should be allowed to run till it's clear.

If you still don't have water, call Southern Water on 0330 303 0368.