A significant water supply crisis has left approximately 24,000 households in the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent without access to running water for the fifth consecutive day. This issue stems from a malfunction at a local treatment facility, as confirmed by South East Water.
On December 3, 2023, during a live broadcast of BBC Breakfast, presenter Jon Kay addressed the ongoing situation, expressing the severity of the crisis. He stated, “It is a nightmare, isn’t it?” while co-hosting with Sally Nugent. Kay reported that although water had been restored to 12,000 homes the previous day, customers were once again experiencing outages due to concerns regarding water quality.
The prolonged disruption has severely affected local businesses and schools, prompting an official apology from South East Water. In a segment that followed, reporter Simon Jones detailed the emotional toll on residents, highlighting feelings of anger, despair, and disbelief among those impacted. Many residents have had to rely on bottled water, which has exacerbated daily challenges.
Impact on Local Businesses and Care Facilities
The crisis has not only disrupted daily life for residents but has also taken a financial toll on local businesses. Jason Denny, the manager of Milward House care home, underscored the gravity of the situation, noting, “We don’t have working toilets, that’s true, and we don’t have working laundry as well, which is a concern. And it’s certainly not a situation that’s sustainable.”
Meanwhile, Julian Leefe-Griffiths, manager of The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, expressed frustration over the financial losses incurred. He recounted a recent incident involving a regular American guest who chose to leave after experiencing three days without a shower. “We’re flushing loos with buckets that we carry up the stairs. It’s completely unacceptable in a modern world, in a great hotel, to be able to operate like this,” Leefe-Griffiths said. He emphasized the unfairness of the situation, stating that businesses like his suffer while customers choose to take their money elsewhere.
According to South East Water, the problem originated from a bad chemical batch processed at the treatment works, leading to the widespread water shortages. The company is currently working to resolve the issue, although the timeline for complete restoration of services remains unclear.
As the situation develops, residents and local businesses continue to face significant challenges due to the lack of basic water services. The community is awaiting further updates from South East Water, hoping for a swift resolution to this ongoing crisis.
