Home / Disasters and Accidents / Kent Declares Major Incident Over Water Shortage
Kent Declares Major Incident Over Water Shortage
12 Jan
Summary
- Tens of thousands in Sussex and Kent lack water.
- Storm, power cut, and network issues cited as causes.
- Some water supply may not return until Tuesday.
Tens of thousands of residents in Sussex and Kent are experiencing a significant water outage as the week begins. South East Water has cited a combination of factors, including Storm Goretti and a power failure at a key pumping station, for the disruption. The company has confirmed that 14 postcodes remain affected, particularly around East Grinstead, Frant, and Tunbridge Wells.
As a result, several schools and public facilities in Kent and Sussex have closed their doors for the day. Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead is considering virtual appointments due to the situation. Bottled water collection points have been established, and water tankers are being deployed to ensure essential services are maintained and to support vulnerable customers on a priority register.
Kent County Council has declared a major incident to prepare for further potential disruption and manage the impact on households and essential settings. This situation has led to public criticism, with one Member of Parliament calling for accountability from the privatized water company. South East Water has issued an apology and is working to restore supplies, though some customers may face outages until Tuesday.
