Power Cut Sparks Major Water Crisis for 8,000 Homes and Businesses
A sudden power outage on Friday has wreaked havoc at a South East Water treatment plant, forcing it to shut down and leaving 8,000 homes, businesses, and a hospital struggling with no or low water pressure.
Water Stations Set Up Across the Region
Technicians have been working round the clock at the affected site, but repairs are slow due to the plant’s industrial scale and complexity. Meanwhile, residents in Hawkhurst, Wadhurst, Rye, and other nearby areas are urged to use emergency water stations set up to ease the crisis.
- The Fowlers Car Park, Rye Road, Hawkhurst (TN18 4PQ)
- The Dale Hill Hotel and Golf Club, Wadhurst
- Northiam Village Hall, Frewen Close, Rye (TN31 6AF)
These stations will remain open until 9 p.m. today to provide bottled water to those affected.
Priority Support for Vulnerable Residents
South East Water is prioritising help for vulnerable customers through its Priority Services Register. Staff are personally delivering bottled water to those most in need.
“We’re very sorry to customers in Matfield, Goudhurst, Pembury, Kilndown, Hawkhurst, Northiam, Sandhurst, and nearby parts of Kent and East Sussex who are still facing low pressure or no water,” said Nick Bell, South East Water Incident Manager.
“Our technicians have been on site 24/7 working hard to bring the plant back online as soon as possible, but this is taking time.”
What You Need to Know
- The power cut on Friday caused multiple failures at the water treatment plant, forcing a shutdown.
- With the plant offline, water supplies in the area’s storage have run dangerously low.
- Customers can register for Priority Services at southeastwater.co.uk/priority for extra support.
- Stay patient as crews work tirelessly to restore normal water services.
South East Water thanked customers for their continued patience during this weekend’s water supply emergency.
