Tunbridge Wells residents are facing an ongoing water crisis as a shutdown at Pembury’s water treatment plant enters its fifth day. A batch of faulty chemicals forced the plant to close on Saturday, November 29, leaving around 24,000 properties dry and desperate.
Water Supply Cut Off for Thousands
Despite efforts, South East Water confirmed this morning that the recovery is slower than hoped. The company said, “We are so very sorry to customers who are still experiencing a loss of water supply this morning.” The issue returns after a brief restoration, hitting supply to all affected homes once again.
They explained, “The system’s return to operation has been slower than anticipated due to a recurring water quality issue that led to the initial shutdown of the water treatment works.” Work continues alongside local councils and resilience groups to provide solutions.
Bottled Water Stations Open But Supplies Limited
Bottled water stations have been set up at:
- Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, St John’s Rd
- Odeon Cinema, Knights Way
- RCP Parking, Tunbridge Wells
A new station for grab bags aimed at cleaning and sanitation is also in the works.
Residents and Schools in Crisis
The water outage has forced school closures, shut businesses, and left vulnerable populations struggling. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey weighed in, calling the outage “an emergency.” He urged the Government to deploy national resources, including the army, to prevent a public health crisis.
“GPs and schools have had to shut, vulnerable people, including in care homes, are unable to get access to any water, and people are having to queue for hours at water distribution sites. The Government must urgently step in,” said Sir Ed Davey.
Help for the Vulnerable
South East Water has delivered over 8,000 bottled water supplies to vulnerable customers registered with their Priority Services Register. Customers can sign up at southeastwater.co.uk/psr.
The water giant apologised again, saying, “We understand the difficulty of being without water and are working tirelessly to restore supplies as quickly as possible.”
