A major incident has been declared across parts of Kent and Sussex after approximately 30,000 homes were left without a reliable water supply, with some residents enduring outages for up to five days.
Widespread Disruption and Service Closures
The significant loss of water has forced the closure of numerous schools and libraries across both counties. The disruption has also reached healthcare services, with The Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead having to conduct some patient appointments virtually due to the lack of running water.
Areas severely affected include Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, Maidstone, Headcorn, and East Grinstead, where 16,500 properties alone are experiencing problems. Residents have reported having no water, suffering from intermittent supply, or dealing with very low pressure.
Utility Company Blames Weather and Infrastructure Strain
South East Water has cited a combination of recent freezing conditions and Storm Goretti as the primary causes for the crisis. The company stated that burst pipes caused by the cold weather were followed by the storm hampering its ability to treat water at normal capacity.
This incident follows a separate two-week outage in Tunbridge Wells at the end of last year, which was attributed to a foreseen shutdown at a treatment centre. The Drinking Water Inspectorate had previously noted the company had not made necessary infrastructure updates or conducted proper testing ahead of that planned shutdown.
Political Response and Company Apology
The Reform-led Kent County Council took the decision to declare a major incident. Council leader Linden Kemkaran explained the declaration was due to the escalating number of impacted households and the need to prepare for further potential disruption.
Environment minister Mary Creagh expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation and relayed her disappointment directly to South East Water executives, stressing the urgent need to restore supplies.
A spokesperson for South East Water apologised, stating: "We’re sorry for the impact caused by this and know how disruptive it is to your daily lives. We’re doing all we can to try and balance our network and restore supplies to as many customers as possible." The company confirmed its drinking water storage tanks were running low following an outbreak of leaks and burst mains.
