Many households across Kent have experienced continued disruption to their tap water supply for a second day as South East Water works to fix problems caused by a burst main and equipment failure.
Scale of the disruption
South East Water reported that the number of affected properties had fallen from a peak figure down to about 2,500 on Sunday afternoon. At the highest point over the weekend, up to 3,200 properties were believed to have been impacted.
Problems have been recorded in a number of locations across the county, including Tonbridge, Bidborough, Maidstone and Sevenoaks; there were also reports of interruptions in Wadhurst in neighbouring East Sussex.
Practical response and public safety
South East Water has set up bottled water stations to support affected residents and is making bottled water deliveries. Two public collection points were established at Sovereign Way East Car Park and Tonbridge Farm Sports Centre and were open from 07:00 BST on Sunday. The company says bottled water is also being delivered to homes without supply.
- Bottled water stations at Sovereign Way East Car Park and Tonbridge Farm Sports Centre (open from 07:00 BST on Sunday)
- Deliveries of bottled water to households without supply
- Restoration target for remaining affected properties: "about breakfast time" the following morning, according to the company's incident manager
"We are unable to use our toilets. We can't shower, and it is now posing hygiene risks. We can't even wash our hands," said local resident Ted Barker, describing the company's communication as "slow, poor, brief and [with] no detailed information."
South East Water's incident manager, Rob Hall, apologised to customers and said teams were working "as quickly and safely as possible". He indicated the firm expected supplies to return to the remaining properties by the following morning.
Technical issues and ongoing risks
Engineers faced particular challenges in Tonbridge, where repair work was complicated by an overnight equipment failure and by the proximity of high-voltage electrical cables to the burst main. In Bidborough, although supplies had been restored to around 320 properties, a further 1,812 households were warned their supply could fall again that evening because of low water in the drinking storage tank. The company said tank topping by tanker overnight would aim to prevent morning shortages.
| Location | Situation reported |
|---|---|
| Tonbridge | Major repair complicated by equipment failure and nearby high-voltage cables; around 2,564 properties initially without water |
| Bidborough | Approximately 320 properties had supplies restored; 1,812 warned of possible evening drops |
| Maidstone & Sevenoaks | Ongoing interruptions reported |
Context and guidance
The shortages come during a spell of hot, dry weather and follow a company-wide hosepipe ban covering about 2.4 million South East Water customers across Kent and Sussex. The firm had earlier urged customers to limit water use to essential purposes while supplies were low.
Residents affected by supply interruptions should follow local guidance from the water company regarding bottled water collection points and deliveries. Those with medical or other urgent needs should contact South East Water directly to request additional support.
This office will continue to monitor restoration progress and report further updates as the company issues them.
