Passengers at Gatwick Airport experienced significant disruption on Sunday after both terminals lost running water following a power failure at a regional treatment works that serves the area.
Immediate impact on passengers and airport services
Travellers reported closed restaurants and bars, lengthy queues for toilets and limited seating as parts of the terminals were effectively without normal facilities. Gatwick said staff were providing bottled water and support to passengers while SES Water, the supplier, worked to remedy the problem.
- No water supply was reported in both terminals, affecting bars, restaurants and toilets.
- Bottled water was being handed out by airport staff to passengers.
- Some flights were delayed, with landing slots adjusted to reduce incoming numbers while disruption continued.
Passengers described confusion and frustration as normal services at the airport were reduced. Several people said they were surprised to find dining areas closed and that waiting times for toilet facilities lengthened.
"There is currently no water supply in either terminal,"
The airport issued an apology and confirmed it was working closely with SES Water to restore supplies as quickly as possible. SES Water said the root cause was a power outage at the Bough Beech treatment works, which serves parts of West Sussex, Kent, Surrey and south London. While the immediate power fault had been fixed, the supplier warned that treated water still needed to be processed before normal service could resume.
Timetable of updates
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cause identified | Power failure at Bough Beech treatment works |
| Supplier statement | Treatment works back up but water requires further treatment before returning to customers |
| Airport response | Handing out bottled water; some restaurant partners opened additional seating; staff assisting passengers |
| Flight disruption | Some flights delayed; landing slots moved to manage arrivals |
BBC reporter accounts indicated at least some incoming flights were held or delayed as Gatwick adjusted landing plans to reduce pressure on terminal services. The airport said it regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers and continued to provide updates.
What passengers should know
Anyone due to travel through Gatwick is advised to check flight status with their airline and expect ongoing limitations to terminal facilities while water is fully restored and safety checks completed. The situation remained fluid into the afternoon as engineers completed treatment processes and the airport collaborated with the supplier to bring services back to normal.
We will continue to monitor statements from Gatwick and SES Water and report further developments affecting travellers and local services.
