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 Triggers 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 led to a subsequent surge in leaks and burst pipes across the network, overwhelming the system.
South East Water, the utility company responsible, is facing significant challenges in restoring normal supply. The company has confirmed that customers are experiencing either very low water pressure or completely intermittent supplies.
Council Leader Confirms Escalation
The situation escalated to the point where local authorities formally declared a major incident. Linden Kemkaran, the leader of Kent County Council, announced the move 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 councils, emergency services, and the water company to prioritise support for vulnerable residents and distribute essential supplies.
Community Response and Ongoing Efforts
The incident echoes previous disruptions, with South East Water having previously been forced to distribute bottled water during similar supply failures. Teams from the company are now urgently working to locate and repair the multiple bursts and leaks causing the network failure.
Residents are being advised to check the water company's website and social media channels for updates on when their supply is expected to be restored and for information on where to collect emergency bottled water if required.
The disruption serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather events and the widespread impact such failures can have on daily life for countless households.
