Thousands Without Water in Kent: Instrument Failure Blamed

Thousands of homes and businesses across Kent have been without water for a second consecutive day, with some areas reporting a complete lack of supply. Approximately 7,000 properties in the Tunbridge Wells area are affected by low pressure, intermittent supply, or no water at all following an instrument failure at a local water treatment works.

South East Water has apologized for the disruption, calling it "not the service we aim to provide." The company stated that while drinking water storage tanks are improving, they need to replenish to ensure a stable, continuous flow for customers. Bottled water stations were made available for a second day, and the company is using tankers to bolster storage levels.

This latest incident comes as South East Water, which supplies about 2.3 million customers, recently warned of "material uncertainty" regarding its survival. The company faced significant financial challenges over the past year, including substantial fines and the departure of its chief executive, necessitating the urgent pursuit of fresh financing.