Water points hit 30,000 properties in Kent and Sussex

Tens of hundreds of individuals in Sussex and Kent have been hit by water provide issues, with one affected buyer likening the state of affairs to “Armageddon”.

South East Water (SEW) stated numerous points had been accountable, together with Storm Goretti and an influence reduce at its pumping plant.

Some 30,000 properties throughout Tunbridge Wells, East Grinstead, Maidstone, Whitstable, Canterbury, and surrounding cities had been with out water, confronted low strain or had intermittent provides.

The beleaguered water firm apologised and stated it was doing all it might to revive provides as quickly as doable.

Eileen, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, advised BBC Radio Kent that she had been having points since Tuesday.

“I am discovering it a nightmare, and I stay alone. I do not understand how individuals with households get on. It is so unhygienic.

“I am getting bottled water delivered, however I am sick of the sight of those bottles.

“I simply need water within the faucet. Is that an excessive amount of to ask?”

Krys O’Brien, from East Grinstead, advised BBC Radio Sussex: “It has been a depressing weekend.

“We have had very intermittent messages from South East Water on the web site,” she stated.

“We do not know when it may come again correctly.”

Heather Pratt in Forest Row stated her water returned on Monday morning after being reduce off on Saturday.

“To make use of Storm Guretti as an excuse I discover very flimsy,” she stated.

Kent County Council chief Linden Kemkaran wrote on X {that a} “main incident” had been declared.

She added that the native authority was “placing further preparations in place to arrange for additional potential disruption.”

A number of colleges in Kent and Sussex had been closed on Monday due to the dearth of water, together with the general public libraries in East Grinstead.

The Queen Victoria Hospital within the city stated some appointments could should be carried out just about.

SEW incident supervisor Matthew Dean stated bottled water was being delivered to clients on its precedence providers register, alongside care houses, colleges and medical care suppliers.

“We’re additionally supporting hospitals with tankers and offering bottled water,” he added.

Matthew Turner from the Weald of Kent Golf Course and Lodge says the water outages have badly affected his enterprise.

He stated the resort has needed to throw away meals and get moveable bathrooms delivered for purchasers.

Sarah Wilmot, an affected store proprietor in East Grinstead, advised the BBC she couldn’t open on Monday as a result of provide points.

“It is a bit like Armageddon,” she stated.

Mike Martin, the Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells, advised the BBC that SEW must “get a grip” of the state of affairs.

“We’re in a weird state of affairs the place we have privatised water and they’re accountable to no-one,” he stated.

David Hinton, the chief government of SEW, had been questioned by MPs about his dealing with of a water outage within the run-up to Christmas, the place 24,000 clients in Kent and East Sussex had been left with out water for a number of days.

The chairman of the Setting Meals and Rural Affairs Committee, Alistair Carmichael, later questioned the “accuracy and intent” of Hinton’s proof.

He known as Hinton’s place “untenable”.

The SEW boss, who earns a base wage of £400,000 and obtained a bonus of £115,000 in 2025, has confronted calls to resign.

Water Minister Emma Hardy stated she was “very involved” in regards to the newest provide disruption.

“That is completely unacceptable,” she added.

Hardy stated the federal government had elevated compensation quantities for affected clients and companies.

SEW water stated bottled water stations will likely be open from 09:00 GMT at:

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