Tunbridge Wells Water Crisis Enters Fourth Day, Residents Struggle

A major water outage has crippled parts of Kent and East Sussex. Up to 24,000 households in Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas have been without running water for four days. The disruption began on Saturday night due to a chemical issue at the Pembury Water Treatment Works.

South East Water (SEW), the utility company, has apologized for the ongoing crisis. The company states it is making progress but confirms 14,000 customers remained without service as of Tuesday morning. This failure has triggered school closures and significant business losses.

Residents Endure Hardship as Queue for Bottles

The impact on daily life has been severe. Long queues formed at bottled water stations set up by the company. Locations include the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre and an Odeon Cinema car park. Residents reported carrying heavy bottles for elderly neighbors who could not manage.

One resident, Daphne Pilcher, spoke to BBC Radio Kent about the struggle. She has arthritis and finds carrying water impossible. After 79 years in her home, she says this is the worst disruption she has ever seen. The community is relying on mutual aid to get by.

Businesses and Schools Forced to Close Doors

Local commerce and education have been severely disrupted. Several schools closed for multiple days, disrupting learning and childcare. Businesses in the hospitality sector reported heavy financial losses from cancellations and early departures.

Julian Leefe-Griffiths, who runs The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, estimated thousands in lost revenue. He described the situation as shockingly difficult to manage. The lack of a reliable timeline for restoration has made planning impossible for many.

Calls for Leadership Accountability Grow Louder

Political pressure on South East Water is intensifying. Mike Martin, the MP for Tunbridge Wells, called for the resignation of SEW’s boss David Hinton. He labeled the crisis a total failure of leadership and crisis management from the company.

In response, SEW’s Chief Executive, David Hinton, has apologized publicly. The company has promised a full investigation once supplies are fully restored. They emphasized that re-establishing water service remains their absolute priority.

Support for Vulnerable Customers Continues

The utility has focused on assisting those most at risk. SEW reports delivering bottled water directly to over 2,000 vulnerable customers on their priority services register. This includes elderly and disabled residents who cannot travel to distribution points.

Community groups have also mobilized to help. Volunteers are checking on neighbors and assisting with water collection. This grassroots response highlights the strain on essential services and the resilience of the local community.

The ongoing Tunbridge Wells water crisis underscores the fragility of essential infrastructure. Restoring full service and rebuilding public trust will be a lengthy process for South East Water. The company faces intense scrutiny over its handling of this major supply failure.

Info at your fingertips

What caused the Tunbridge Wells water outage?

South East Water stated a problem with a chemical batch at the Pembury Water Treatment Works caused the shutdown. This occurred on Saturday night, triggering the widespread loss of supply.

Where can residents collect bottled water?

Bottled water stations are open at several locations. These include Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, St John’s Road Odeon Cinema, Knights Way, and RCP Parking. South East Water provides updates on site operations.

Have any schools been affected?

Yes. Several schools in the Tunbridge Wells area were forced to close. This was due to the lack of running water for sanitation and drinking, causing major disruption for families.

How is South East Water helping vulnerable people?

The company is making direct bottled water deliveries. They are focusing on over 2,000 customers registered on their priority services list, which includes elderly and disabled residents.

What are local officials saying about the crisis?

Local MP Mike Martin has been highly critical. He called the situation a failure of leadership and has demanded accountability from South East Water’s senior management.

When will the water supply be fully restored?

South East Water has provided shifting estimates, aiming for full restoration. As of Tuesday, they were working to reconnect the final 14,000 properties but acknowledged the complexity of the fix.t.