Water Crisis Hits Tunbridge Wells, East Grinstead, Maidstone and More
Thousands of homes across Kent and Sussex remain dry-eyed and waterless as a major incident declared on Monday continues to wreak havoc. Schools have been forced to close for a second day amid ongoing water shortages impacting towns such as Tunbridge Wells, East Grinstead, Maidstone, Whitstable, Canterbury, and surrounding areas.
Water Supplies Still Struggling After Storm and Freeze
South East Water (SEW) blames the crisis on the battering from Storm Goretti and freezing temperatures, which caused burst pipes and power cuts. Residents in Harbledown, Canterbury, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Headcorn, Hollingbourne, Kingswood, Sutton Valence, Sevenoaks, and Ulcombe are still facing disruptions.
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SEW says it’s working through the night to boost reservoir levels. “Water may return intermittently before full recovery,” the company warned.
Kent Council Boss Slams Water Company Chief
Linden Kemkaran, Kent County Council leader, said: “The ongoing situation with water in Kent is a disgrace. I will be urging fellow Kent Leaders to demand the head of SEW steps down. He clearly is not up to the job.”
Schools and Communities Struggle as Power Cuts Worsen Crisis
Power outages have caused pumping stations in parts of Tunbridge Wells to fail, worsening water shortages. MP Mike Martin revealed efforts to keep schools open amid A-Level and GCSE mocks, securing bottled water and grey water for flushing toilets.
Stay tuned for live updates as this severe water crisis unfolds.
