Residents in Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas in Kent face ongoing water shortages due to infrastructure failures and storm damage
Water Shortages Affect Thousands in Kent and Sussex
A Kent resident has a daily routine of filling the bath, kettle, and fridge with water. She fears returning home to no working mains water.
A major incident has been declared as tens of thousands of homes in Kent and Sussex have experienced water shortages since early Saturday morning.
Residents have expressed their frustration, stating they are “beyond disgusted” with the regular water shortages.
Resident Experiences
Joanne Lee, 53, from Ulcombe, Kent, shared that these issues are frequent. She has changed her routine and fills water bottles before leaving home.
“Sometimes it can be for a couple of hours, sometimes it’s for days. I’ve never lived anywhere like it,” she said.
She added, “I’ve got into the routine of filling up my bath to flush the toilet. This should not be normal for the UK.”
Reasons for Water Shortages
South East Water (SEW) cited several reasons for the shortages, including Storm Goretti, burst water mains, and a power cut at its pumping plant.
Storm Goretti affected water treatment rates, and freezing conditions caused burst mains. Some schools in East Sussex are closed, and Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead is holding some appointments virtually.
Water Distribution Efforts
Collection points for bottled water have been set up. While SEW is working to restore supplies, some customers may not have water until Tuesday.
In December, 24,000 customers in Tunbridge Wells, Pembury, Frant, and Eridge faced similar issues due to “water quality issues.”
Community Response
Paddy McGinley, 60, has lived in Ulcombe for four years. He created a WhatsApp group called Ulcombe Water Watch Group to track water supply issues.
“They’ve got problems because they’ve most probably got an infrastructure that needs updating,” he said.
He questioned the increase in bills and the impact on essential services like hospitals and schools.
Calls for Action
Jonathan Hawker, 58, formed a campaign group called Drywells Action in Tunbridge Wells. He stated, “Water is a human right, and we are being denied this basic human right.”
He aims to secure a public meeting and an independent audit of the local water infrastructure.
Official Statements
South East Water incident manager Steve Andrews apologized to customers and stated their focus is on restoring supplies quickly.
He noted an increase in leaks and burst mains after recent freezing temperatures. SEW has extra technicians available to address these issues.
Government Response
Water minister Emma Hardy emphasized the need for infrastructure investment. She called the shortages “entirely unacceptable” and is working with water companies to restore supplies.
An Ofwat spokesperson expressed concern over the ongoing water issues and stated they are investigating SEW’s supply resilience.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Water Shortages Declared | Saturday Morning | Tens of thousands of homes affected in Kent and Sussex. |
| Previous Issues | December | 24,000 customers faced water loss or low pressure. |
| SEW Response | Ongoing | Working to restore supplies; some customers may wait until Tuesday. |
