Storm Goretti disrupted water supply in East Grinstead, Sussex, affecting 16,500 homes, with shortages also in Kent, causing chaos as residents queue for bottled water
Water Supply Disruption After Storm Goretti
Tens of thousands of households are without water supply due to Storm Goretti’s destruction. Around 21,000 homes in Sussex and Kent are affected, with many not expecting service restoration until Tuesday at the earliest.
Water Stations Set Up
South East Water has established water stations in Sussex for those without water. In East Grinstead, Sussex, about 16,500 homes have no or low water pressure. Eastbourne residents are also facing similar issues.
Impact in Kent
Approximately 4,500 homes in Hollingbourne and other areas of Kent are without water. Southern Water delivered bottled water to vulnerable customers in Kent last night in anticipation of these issues.
Causes of Shortages
South East Water (SEW) attributes the shortages to several factors, including weather disruptions. In Eastbourne, SEW stated that “essential network changes” caused the shortages. In Hollingbourne, the issue arose because “neighbouring water companies [could not] give us the bulk supplies of treated water as they normally do.”
Response from South East Water
In East Grinstead, SEW explained that Storm Goretti affected their ability to treat raw water at their main Sussex treatment works. They also noted that burst water mains due to freeze/thaw conditions contributed to low drinking water storage levels.
Community Concerns
SEW apologized to those affected and is delivering water to priority customers. Locals expressed frustration about traveling miles to water stations. One resident from Forest Row said, “Most of the village is currently without water and yet we have to travel to East Grinstead to collect bottled supplies.”
Feedback and Adjustments
Steve Andrews, incident manager at SEW, mentioned they have listened to customer feedback. They decided not to open the bottled water station at Sainsbury’s today and instead opened one at East Grinstead Sports Club. He apologized for the disruption.
Government Response
Mary Creagh, a minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, called the water outage “entirely unacceptable.” She expressed concern for people in the South East and South West facing water supply issues due to cold weather and Storm Goretti.
| Location | Homes Affected | Water Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 21,000 | No water supply |
| East Grinstead | 16,500 | No or low pressure |
| Eastbourne | Unknown | Shortages |
| Kent (Hollingbourne) | 4,500 | No water supply |
