What caused the water supply failure in Kent and East Sussex?

The water supply failure was caused by disinfection issues at the Pembury Water Treatment Works.

How much compensation is South East Water offering businesses?

South East Water is offering a total compensation package of up to £2.5 million for businesses.

When did the water supply failure affect properties in Kent?

The water supply failure affected properties in and around Tunbridge Wells from November 29 to December 4.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / SEW's £2.5M Fund to Aid Businesses After Water Failure

SEW's £2.5M Fund to Aid Businesses After Water Failure

2 Jan

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Summary

A separate compensation scheme for businesses is being established.
The new fund aims to cover specific financial losses businesses incurred.
South East Water is creating a total compensation package of £2.5 million.

SEW's £2.5M Fund to Aid Businesses After Water Failure

South East Water (SEW) has announced the creation of an additional, separate compensation scheme specifically for businesses in Kent and East Sussex affected by a recent six-day water supply failure. This incident occurred just before Christmas, leaving approximately 24,000 properties with little to no water pressure. Residents and businesses endured significant disruption.

The new fund is designed to address specific financial losses faced by businesses. This initiative complements the payments already being made through the Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS). SEW is fast-tracking GSS payments to water retailers for businesses and has waived regulatory limits on compensation duration.

Collectively, these measures bring the total compensation package for affected businesses to £2.5 million. SEW's chief executive, David Hinton, acknowledged the disruption and committed to fair compensation. The company is also reviewing its operational dependencies following the failure at Pembury Water Treatment Works.