Tunbridge Wells faces relentless water chaos as Pembury’s treatment plant sputters on day five of shutdown. A dodgy batch of chemicals shut the taps on Saturday, November 29, leaving 24,000 homes bone dry and boiling with frustration.
Thousands Left Without Water Supply
South East Water admitted this morning that fixing the fiasco is dragging slower than promised. They apologised, saying, “We are so very sorry to customers who are still experiencing a loss of water supply this morning.”
After a brief flicker of hope when water briefly returned, the supply has now been cut again to every affected household.
The firm blamed a stubborn water quality issue that keeps throwing a spanner in the works. They added, “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.” Teams are working around the clock with local authorities and emergency groups to fix it.
Water Aid Stations Open But Supplies Running Low
Residents desperate for water can grab bottled supplies at these locations:
- Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, St John’s Rd
- Odeon Cinema, Knights Way
- RCP Parking, Tunbridge Wells
A new station for sanitation grab bags is also being set up to ease the crisis.
Schools Closed, Vulnerable Left High and Dry
The shutdown has forced school closures, shuttered businesses, and left vulnerable groups scrambling. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey slammed the situation as “an emergency” and called for urgent government action, including military help.
“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.
Support for Vulnerable Residents
South East Water has already delivered over 8,000 bottled water supplies to vulnerable households registered on their Priority Services Register. Customers can sign up at southeastwater.co.uk/psr.
The company reiterated their sorry, saying, “We understand the difficulty of being without water and are working tirelessly to restore supplies as quickly as possible.”
