Water supplies have finally been restored to tens of thousands of homes across Kent and Sussex, ending a week of severe disruption that left residents without a reliable tap supply.
Storm Blamed for Widespread Disruption
The beleaguered utility company, South East Water (SEW), blamed the crisis on a combination of burst pipes and power cuts caused by Storm Goretti. The problems began last Saturday, and at the peak of the incident, 30,000 customers across the two counties were either without water entirely or suffering from extremely low pressure.
This latest failure has sparked intense criticism from local MPs and the public, coming hard on the heels of a similar incident just last month. In that event, 24,000 people in Tunbridge Wells were left without drinking water for a staggering two weeks.
Company Apologises as Regulator Steps In
On Friday, 16 January 2026, SEW's incident manager, Mathew Dean, confirmed that supplies had been restored to the final 6,500 properties in the Tunbridge Wells area. He explained that a recovery plan, which involved keeping local booster pumps off for 36 hours to allow storage tanks to refill, had been successful.
"We are very sorry to every single one of our customers who have been affected," Dean said. "We know and understand how difficult going without water for such a long period of time is and how difficult it makes everyday life."
However, apologies may not be enough. The water regulator, Ofwat, announced on Thursday that it is launching a formal investigation. The probe will examine whether SEW breached its licence by failing to meet customer service standards and by not offering appropriate support during the supply interruptions.
Potential Fines and Future Precautions
The consequences for South East Water could be severe. If Ofwat finds the company in breach of its licence, potential penalties include:
- A fine of up to 10% of the firm's annual turnover.
- In the most extreme case, the supplier could be stripped of its licence and placed into a special administration regime.
While the majority of supplies are now back, the company acknowledged that roughly 320 properties in Bidborough are still experiencing low pressure, with tankers deployed to assist. Bottled water stations in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, and Bidborough will remain open "as a precaution" for the time being.
