Water outage in Kent and Sussex has left thousands of households without running water for a second time in two months, after supply failures linked to Storm Goretti and freezing temperatures. The disruption, reported on Tuesday morning, affects areas including Tunbridge Wells, East Grinstead, Maidstone, Whitstable and Canterbury. South East Water said damage to the network and low reservoir levels were preventing a rapid restoration, warning that supply may return intermittently. The outage follows a similar incident in December 2025, when around 24,000 people were affected. MPs from across the region are now calling on the government to remove South East Water chief executive David Hinton over repeated failures. This is reported by the editorial team of The WP Times, citing GB News.

South East Water said damage to the network, low reservoir levels and pressure issues at pumping sites were preventing a rapid return to normal supply. Engineers worked through the night, but the company warned that the size of the network meant some households could remain without reliable water until later in the week.

What is known so far

The situation on Tuesday morning can be summarised as follows:

  • Second major outage in two months in the same region
  • Cause: Storm Goretti, cold weather, burst mains and pressure failures
  • Households affected: several thousand across Kent and Sussex
  • December 2025 comparison: about 24,000 people affected in Tunbridge Wells
  • Current outlook: water returning gradually, often intermittently

Areas still affected by loss of supply or low pressure

South East Water says conditions differ by location. As of Tuesday:

  • Still without water or very low pressure:
    Tunbridge Wells, East Grinstead, Maidstone, Whitstable, Canterbury, Tonbridge, Burgess Hill, Coxheath
  • Supply returned or largely restored:
    Hollingbourne, Headcorn, Ulcombe, Kingswood, Sutton Valence

The company warned that even where water has returned, pressure may fluctuate until reservoirs recover fully.

What South East Water is telling customers

In official updates, the utility says:

  • Reservoir levels are rising but not yet stable
  • Burst mains and pumping constraints are slowing restoration
  • Water may return intermittently before stabilising
  • Brown or cloudy water is not harmful and should clear after running the cold tap

Updates are published at www.southeastwater.co.uk.

Emergency water stations now operating

To support households without supply, bottled water is being distributed daily from 9am to 10pm at multiple locations.

East Grinstead distribution points:

  • Kings Centre, Moat Road, RH19 3LN
  • East Grinstead Sports Club, Saint Hill Road, RH19 4JU
  • East Court, College Lane, RH19 3LT

Residents are advised to bring their own containers where possible.

Political pressure and calls for leadership change

The latest outage has triggered strong criticism from MPs across Kent and Sussex. Several have called on ministers to remove South East Water chief executive David Hinton, arguing that repeated failures point to systemic problems.

Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said around 5,000 properties in her Faversham and Mid Kent constituency were affected. She criticised the company’s response, saying vulnerable residents had been sent on long journeys to collect bottled water, sometimes only to find supplies had run out. The issue was raised in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

What affected residents should do now

South East Water and local authorities advise customers to:

  • Check live updates on the company’s website and local radio
  • Use emergency water stations if supply has not returned
  • Run the cold kitchen tap if water appears discoloured
  • Register as a vulnerable customer if there are medical needs
  • Keep records of disruption for potential compensation claims

This is the second large-scale failure of water supply in the same part of South East England within weeks, intensifying scrutiny of infrastructure resilience during extreme weather. While crews continue repair work, households across Kent and Sussex face ongoing disruption, and political pressure is growing for regulatory action and changes at the top of South East Water.

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