Gatwick Airport has reported that water supply returned to the vast majority of the London Gatwick campus
on Sunday night following a major outage that left both terminals without running water. The disruption, which affected the UK’s second busiest airport, was caused by a power failure at the Bough Beech treatment works.
Impact on Airport Facilities and Passengers
The lack of water forced the closure of all bars and restaurants, as these establishments could not make fresh food or provide hot drinks. Passengers reported being unable to fill water bottles from fountains. While some food outlets selling packaged meals remained open, the widespread closures led to a shortage of seating. Michael Dugher, a former MP, noted on social media that families were forced to sit on the floor, urging the airport to allow passengers to use seating within the closed restaurants.
In response to the crisis, Gatwick Airport deployed additional teams across both terminals and distributed bottled water to passengers and staff. A spokesperson stated that some restaurant partners opened specifically to provide additional seating for travelers.
Infrastructure Failure and Regional Reach
The supply failure originated at the Bough Beech treatment works, operated by bbc.co.uk. The company described the situation as a highly unusual and complex issue.
Beyond the airport, the power outage caused low water pressure or a temporary loss of supply for customers across parts of Kent, Surrey, and south London, including residents in Horley and the TN11, RH1, RH6, and RH10 postcode areas.
SES Water confirmed on Sunday afternoon that the treatment works were back up and running. However, officials clarified that it would take time for the network to return to normal because the water required treatment before services could be fully restored.
Flight Operations and Travel Disruptions
Gatwick Airport maintained that there were no flight cancellations as a direct result of the water supply issues. However, some operational adjustments were reported:
- Bag Drop Changes: EasyJet advised passengers not to arrive earlier than necessary, as bag drop desks were temporarily opening two hours before departure instead of the usual three.
- Landing Slots: A BBC reporter noted that a flight from Valencia to Gatwick was delayed, with passengers informed that landing slots had been adjusted to reduce the number of arriving flights.
Timeline of Recovery
The recovery process moved through several stages on Sunday:
| Stage | Status/Action |
|---|---|
| Initial Outage | Both terminals lose running water; restaurants and bars close. |
| Treatment Plant Recovery | SES Water reports Bough Beech works are back up and running. |
| Water Processing | SES Water begins treating water to safely return services to normal. |
| Final Restoration | Gatwick reports water returned to the vast majority of the campus by Sunday night. |
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