Kent County Council has declared a major incident after approximately 30,000 homes across Kent and Sussex were left struggling with water supply. The widespread disruption, affecting postcodes including Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, and Maidstone, stems from a combination of severe weather, infrastructure failures, and a power outage.
Causes of the Water Crisis
South East Water has cited a confluence of three critical issues for the severe drop in water pressure and supply. The first was Storm Goretti, which hampered the company's ability to treat water at its normal rate. This was compounded by an outbreak of burst water mains, a direct result of recent freezing conditions across the two counties. A third blow came in the form of a power cut at a key pumping plant, further crippling distribution efforts.
The utility company explained that these combined problems have caused drinking water storage tanks to run dangerously low. "Our drinking water storage tanks across the counties are running low following an outbreak of leaks and burst water mains after the recent cold weather," a statement on Facebook confirmed.
Impact and Emergency Response
The scale of the disruption prompted Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran to declare a major incident on Monday, 12 January 2026. She stated the decision was based on the number of households impacted within 24 hours and the need to prepare for further potential problems.
The consequences have been far-reaching:
- Bottled water stations were established at locations including Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club and Headcorn Aerodrome, set to close at 10pm tonight.
- Several schools in the affected regions have been forced to close.
- Public libraries in East Grinstead have shut for the day.
- The Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead has moved some appointments to virtual consultations, with water tankers deployed to ensure essential services continue.
South East Water has apologised for the disruption and is working to balance its network. However, some customers have been warned that their supply may not be fully restored until Tuesday.
History of Supply Problems
This incident follows recent instability in the region's water supply. In December, around 24,000 customers in areas including Tunbridge Wells, Pembury, and Frant experienced similar losses of water or low pressure due to reported water quality issues. The recurrence of significant disruption within a month has heightened concerns over the resilience of the local water infrastructure.
Council leaders and the water company are urging affected residents to use water sparingly and to check for updates on the location of bottled water collection points as efforts continue to resolve the crisis.
