(East Grinstead, January 10, 2026) – Thousands of properties in East Grinstead, Sussex, are without water after Storm Goretti disrupted treatment at a key facility and a series of burst water mains, according to South East Water.
Water supplies are disrupted for approximately 16,500 customers in the East Grinstead area due to storm damage and burst pipes.
- Approximately 16,500 properties in East grinstead are affected by water supply issues.
- Storm Goretti hampered water treatment, and burst mains have depleted storage levels.
- Water supplies are not expected to return to normal until the end of the weekend.
- Bottled water is being delivered to customers on South East Water’s priority register.
South East water apologized to customers in the East Grinstead area, stating that the issues are affecting “in the region of 16,500 properties.”
“Storm Goretti has affected our ability to treat the raw water at the normal rate at our main sussex water treatment works,” said a company representative. “I can confirm that all water currently in our network is safe to drink.”
The disruption is compounded by burst water mains across Sussex caused by recent freeze-thaw conditions, leading to the exhaustion of drinking water storage in the East Grinstead area, according to the company.
“regrettably we do not expect water supplies to start to return to normal until the end of the weekend,” the representative stated.
Did you know? – Burst pipes are more common during cold weather as water freezes and expands, increasing pressure within the pipes. Protecting exposed pipes can help prevent damage.
water Disruptions Extend to Kent
The situation in East Grinstead comes as residents in tunbridge Wells, Kent, have been informed to expect continued disruption to their water supply until Tuesday, according to the BBC.
Earlier this week, South East Water reported that cold weather had caused a “series of burst water mains,” leaving 6,500 customers in the Tunbridge Wells area without service.
Bottled water is currently being delivered to people on South East Water’s priority register, the firm said.
“All water currently in our network is safe to drink,” a South East Water representative confirmed.
Reader question – What steps can residents take to prepare for potential water outages in the future? Share your thoughts and ideas.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by BBC News and added autonomous analysis and context.
Expanded News Report:
Storm Goretti and Freeze-Thaw Conditions Cause Widespread Water Disruptions in Sussex and Kent
(East Grinstead, January 10, 2026) – Approximately 23,000 properties across East Grinstead, Sussex, and Tunbridge Wells, Kent, are experiencing water supply disruptions following Storm Goretti and subsequent freeze-thaw conditions. South East Water is working to restore service, but full recovery is not expected until the end of the weekend in East Grinstead and tuesday in Tunbridge Wells.
What Happened? The disruptions began when Storm Goretti impacted South East Water’s ability to treat raw water at its main Sussex water treatment works. This was compounded by a series of burst water mains throughout Sussex and Kent, triggered by freezing temperatures followed by thawing, which increased pressure on the aging infrastructure. The combined effect depleted drinking water storage in the affected areas. Approximately 16,500 customers in East Grinstead and 6,500 in Tunbridge Wells are currently without full water service
