A major incident has been declared after approximately 30,000 homes in Kent and Sussex were left without water, with some areas experiencing disruption for up to five days. South East Water has attributed the crisis to freezing conditions caused by cold weather and Storm Goretti, which led to burst pipes and reduced water treatment capacity.
Schools and libraries across the affected regions have closed due to a lack of running water, while Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead has been forced to conduct some appointments virtually. The Reform-led Kent County Council declared the major incident, with council leader Linden Kemkaran stating that additional arrangements are being put in place to prepare for further potential disruption.
The water company apologised for the disruption, noting that storage tanks are running low due to a surge in leaks and burst mains. Around 16,500 properties in East Grinstead are affected, along with areas including Tunbridge Wells, Headcorn, and parts of the Maidstone system. Some residents in Tunbridge Wells faced a similar outage for two weeks at the end of last year after a shutdown at a treatment centre.
The Prime Minister's official spokesperson described the situation as “completely unacceptable,” confirming that ministers are holding daily emergency meetings with South East Water and local officials. Water Minister Emma Hardy expressed concern and said she is meeting with water companies and local resilience forums to prioritise restoring supplies, especially for vulnerable customers and essential services.
