(East Grinstead, January 12, 2026) – A major incident has been declared after approximately 30,000 homes in kent and Sussex are without water, with some residents experiencing disruptions for as long as five days.
widespread water outages are impacting communities across Kent and Sussex, prompting a major incident declaration and raising concerns about infrastructure resilience.
- Around 30,000 properties in Kent and Sussex are currently without water, or experiencing low pressure.
- Schools and libraries have closed, and hospital appointments have been moved online due to the lack of running water.
- South East Water attributes the outages to burst pipes caused by freezing weather and the impact of Storm Goretti.
- This incident follows similar disruptions in Tunbridge Wells late last year, prompting scrutiny of the water companyS infrastructure.
The disruptions are affecting areas including Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, and Maidstone, according to reports. Schools and libraries across both counties have been forced to close for the day, and The Queen Victoria hospital in East Grinstead has been compelled to conduct some appointments virtually due to the lack of running water.
Cause of the Outages
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South East Water has blamed the cold weather and Storm Goretti for the supply problems, stating that freezing conditions caused burst pipes and the storm hindered their ability to treat water at the usual rate. Approximately 16,500 properties in East Grinstead are affected, with the remaining outages spread across parts of Kent, including Tunbridge Wells, Headcorn, and the Maidstone system.
Previous Disruptions and Infrastructure Concerns
This latest incident comes after residents of Tunbridge Wells faced two weeks without water at the end of last year following a shutdown at one of South east water’s treatment centers. The Drinking Water Inspectorate determined that the shutdown was foreseen, but the company had not made necessary updates to its infrastructure or conducted proper testing.
Official Response
The Reform-led council in Kent has declared a major incident, with Kent county council leader Linden Kemkaran stating that the declaration was made because more households and settings have been impacted in the last 24 hours and to prepare for further potential disruption. Surroundings minister Mary Creagh said she met with South East water executives to express her disappointment, stating, “I’m deeply concerned that water supply issues in parts of Kent and West Sussex have deteriorated, with several areas affected.”
South East Water has apologized to residents for the disruption, saying in a statement, “Our drinking water storage tanks across the counties are running low following an outbreak of leaks and burst water mains after the recent cold weather. We’re sorry for the impact caused by this and know how disruptive it is indeed to your daily lives. We’re doing all we can to try to balance our network and restore supplies to as many customers as possible.”
“A major incident has now been declared in Kent on the basis that more households and settings have been impacted in the last 24 hours and because we are putting additional arrangements in place to prepare for further potential disruption.” – Linden Kemkaran,Kent county council leader
Water Infrastructure Age-Much of the UK’s water infrastructure dates back to the Victorian era. Aging pipes are prone to bursts, especially during periods of extreme weather, increasing the risk of supply disruptions.
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Time.news based this report in part on reporting by The Guardian and added independent analysis and context.
