Key Highlights
- Tunbridge Wells residents warned of ongoing water supply issues until next week.
- About 6,500 households experienced disruption after series of burst water mains due to cold weather.
- South East Water expects stability by Tuesday, January 13, but customers may face intermittent supplies.
- Priority customers receive bottled water and deliveries during the crisis.
Tunbridge Wells Faces Ongoing Water Supply Issues
Residents in Tunbridge Wells are bracing for continued disruption to their water supply as South East Water (SEW) warns that issues will persist until next week. The latest update from SEW indicates that although the problem was largely resolved overnight, customers may still experience some interruptions throughout the day.
Initial Disruption and Current Status
About 6,500 households in Tunbridge Wells were without water after a series of burst water mains on Tuesday (January 6), following cold weather conditions. South East Water’s chief executive David Hinton highlighted that while the issue has largely been resolved, it will take time for the network to fully stabilize.
In an update published today (January 9), SEW confirmed that drinking water had returned to all customers in the morning but warned of potential intermittent supply throughout the day if demand exceeds available pumping capacity. The company expects stability by Tuesday, January 13, though residents may face disruptions, particularly in the afternoon and evening as water usage increases.
Customer Support and Measures
In response to customer concerns, SEW has taken several measures to support affected households. Bottled water stations are available until 10pm at Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club, with priority customers receiving direct deliveries of bottled water. The company acknowledges the tough situation for its customers but emphasizes that this approach is necessary to return services to normal.
SEW continues to work on fixing the leaks and bursts impacting the network, while also balancing water levels in storage tanks. “Our leak repair teams are working around the clock to fix the issues,” Hinton said during a press update.
Historical Context and Criticism
The ongoing disruption comes amidst a backdrop of previous water supply issues in the area. In December, 24,000 householders were left without supplies for 14 days, with the Drinking Water Inspectorate warning SEW about potential risks at Pembury Treatment Works in 2024. The issues stemmed from sub-optimal operations and led to a boil order being issued.
SEW’s performance has been under scrutiny, with Hinton giving evidence to an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) select committee regarding the previous outage.
This latest disruption adds to concerns about the company’s ability to manage water supply effectively.
“We completely appreciate that this will be tough for our customers; we are very sorry,” said Hinton during the update. “This is not the level of service we want to provide, and we believe it’s the quickest way to return services to normal.” The company continues to work on stabilizing water levels and ensuring long-term solutions to prevent such disruptions in the future.
For now, residents are advised to be prepared for potential interruptions in their water supply. SEW encourages customers to conserve water where possible during this period of disruption.
