LONDON, Jan 12, 2026, 14:24 (GMT)
- Kent County Council has declared a major incident following widespread water supply failures across parts of Kent and Sussex
- South East Water reported that burst mains and leaks, triggered by Storm Goretti and freezing temperatures, emptied storage tanks
- Southern Water reported that most Kent customers kept their supply but redirected bottled-water support to the areas hit hardest
Kent County Council declared a major incident on Monday as roughly 30,000 homes across parts of Kent and Sussex lost running water or experienced a severe drop in pressure.
The disruption spilled into the start of the week, forcing some schools to close and public services to pivot while households line up for bottled water. For local officials, it’s turned into an emergency-planning challenge just as much as a plumbing issue.
The sector is already facing political heat, with outages and leaks under intense scrutiny. Companies are being pressured to prove they can maintain water supply despite unpredictable weather.
South East Water reported a surge in leaks and bursts across parts of its network, leading to low storage tank levels and intermittent supply for some customers. Areas around Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, and Canterbury were impacted, with East Grinstead and its surroundings among the hardest hit.
Kent council leader Linden Kemkaran said a major incident was declared after more locations were hit in the last 24 hours. Environment Minister Mary Creagh expressed she was “deeply concerned” and called for regular updates from the company. 1
South East Water’s incident manager Mike Court said crews are working nonstop, with water treatment plants pushed to full capacity and tankers delivering water straight into storage tanks and the network. The firm warned that some areas, including East Grinstead and parts of Maidstone, won’t see water restored until Tuesday. 2
At bottle stations, the company has been relying on its Priority Services Register — which identifies customers needing extra support, including the elderly and those with medical conditions — to prioritise deliveries. Incident manager Matthew Dean said they made 5,700 bottled-water deliveries over the weekend. They’re also assisting hospitals with tankers and supplying care homes, schools, and livestock. 3
Southern Water, which serves other parts of the region, said water was “flowing as normal” for its Kent customers but it was taking precautionary steps after Storm Goretti and a power outage. The company is managing water production amid heavy rainfall that has raised “turbidity” — or cloudiness — in raw water. 4
Southern Water has halted precautionary bottled-water deliveries in Thanet after reporting no major issues at supply sites overnight. The company shifted resources to support South East Water’s ongoing efforts. However, it cautioned that around 76,000 homes could still face supply disruptions, with potential impacts expected Tuesday if demand remains high. 5
Water utility shares slipped in London, with Severn Trent shedding 2.7%, United Utilities down 2.1%, and Pennon falling 3.0% during the session. https://www.lse.co.uk/LiveSharePrice.html?share=Severn-Trent&shareprice=SVT https://www.lse.co.uk/SharePrice.html?share=United-Utilities&shareprice=UU. 6
Repairs can stall fast when cold snaps hit. More freeze-thaw cycles, fresh power outages, or restrictions on how quickly crews can treat and transport water could drag out restoration efforts and expand the zones experiencing low pressure.
