A major incident has been declared across parts of South East England after tens of thousands of households were left with no running water or severely reduced pressure.
Cold Weather Blamed for Widespread Disruption
The crisis, impacting residents across Kent and Sussex on the morning of Monday, 12th January 2026, has been directly attributed to a period of cold weather. The freezing conditions have triggered a subsequent surge in leaks and burst pipes across the network, overwhelming the system.
South East Water, the utility company responsible for the region, is grappling with the fallout, which has left countless homes and businesses with either intermittent supplies or no water at all.
Council Leader Confirms Escalation to Major Incident
The severity of the situation prompted Kent County Council to formally declare a major incident. The council leader, Linden Kemkaran, confirmed the decision in a statement on social media platform X.
"A major incident has now been declared on the basis that more households and settings have been impacted in the last 24 hours and because we are putting additional arrangements in place to prepare for further potential disruption," Kemkaran wrote.
This declaration enables a coordinated multi-agency response, potentially involving local authorities, emergency services, and the water company to prioritise support for vulnerable residents and restore services.
Response and Ongoing Concerns
The incident echoes problems faced in previous years, with images of bottled water being distributed by South East Water resurfacing as a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to winter weather.
With no immediate timeline for a full restoration of normal water pressure and supply, residents are being urged to check on neighbours, particularly the elderly or those with health conditions. The situation underscores ongoing concerns about the resilience of the UK's water infrastructure during extreme weather events.
Officials are now focused on repairing the network damage and organising alternative water supplies for the worst-affected areas while bracing for potential further issues as the cold snap continues.
