A public health crisis is unfolding in Kent as thousands of residents face a sixth consecutive day without a safe drinking water supply. The disruption, which began last Saturday, has left approximately 14,000 homes in Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas reliant on boiled or bottled water tonight.
A Network Failure and a Boil Notice
The problems stem from a fault in the disinfection process at South East Water's (SEW) Pembury treatment works. Although the under-pressure utility managed to restore a partial supply to 24,000 properties, the water is not safe for consumption. A precautionary boil notice remains firmly in place, with residents instructed to boil all tap water and let it cool before drinking, brushing teeth, or preparing food.
Dr Neil Hudson, SEW's head of water quality, explained the setback. "After recharging our network in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas slowly, we have seen a recurrence of the water-quality issues that caused the initial shutdown," he stated. The company is currently pumping water from the works for non-potable uses like showering and flushing toilets, but it cannot be used for drinking without boiling first.
Businesses Devastated and Residents' Fury
The extended outage has wreaked havoc on local life and commerce. Many businesses have been forced to close, incurring severe financial losses. Alex Gregg, owner of Fuggles Beer Cafe, reported having to discard food and 175 pints of cask beer, with the closure costing him an estimated £7,000.
Birkan Koca, proprietor of the Eggs Eleven cafe, labelled the situation a "shambles," stating it had cost his business at least £15,000. "The coffee machine doesn't get to boiling so can't use it," he said, highlighting the practical impossibilities of operating.
Residents have expressed anger at what they perceive as broken promises from the water company. Darren Carpenter, a local, voiced frustration over the disruption and the high salaries of SEW's leaders. The crisis has been particularly difficult for vulnerable residents less able to collect bottled water being distributed by the company.
Calls for Resignations and Investigations
The political fallout is intensifying. Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin described the episode as "a total failure of leadership" and called for the resignation of SEW's chief executive, Dave Hinton. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer branded the situation "shocking," noting the serious public health consequences.
The independent Consumer Council for Water has called for an investigation, pointing out that customers in the area have seen their water bills rise 'significantly' this year. With the boil notice expected to last until next Friday at the earliest, the pressure on South East Water shows no sign of abating as volunteers continue to deliver essential bottled water to affected communities.
