We know you rely on us to provide reliable access to clean and safe water. When outages happen and your water is not working, we work to notify you and restore service as quickly as possible.

We know you rely on us to provide reliable access to clean and safe water. When outages happen and your water is not working, we work to notify you and restore service as quickly as possible.

Thousands of residents in Kent have been affected by significant water supply disruptions during a period of extreme heat, prompting widespread frustration and criticism of South East Water. According to the company, increased demand during the heatwave has placed strain on the system, leading to intermittent supply, low pressure, or complete outages across several areas including Whitstable, Tankerton and Ashford. Around 8,000 customers in Whitstable initially lost water, with a further 14,000 experiencing reduced or inconsistent supply. Overall, approximately 22,000 people were reported to have been affected. Residents described severe disruption to daily life, including difficulties accessing drinking water, sanitation, and basic hygiene needs. Some customers reported long queues at bottled water distribution points in high temperatures, while others, particularly vulnerable individuals such as elderly residents or those with disabilities, said they were left without adequate support. Criticism has been directed at the company’s emergency response, including difficulties contacting helplines and delays in delivering bottled water to priority users. Anger has also focused on broader infrastructure concerns, with residents questioning why sufficient storage reservoirs and system resilience measures have not been developed. Some accused the company of prioritising profit over investment in long-term water security. MPs have previously criticised South East Water’s leadership over repeated outages, contributing to the resignation of senior executives including the chair and chief executive. The company has apologised and stated it is working to restore supply levels and maintain treated water flow into reservoirs, while urging customers to use water only for essential purposes. It also acknowledged that some households may continue to experience intermittent supply until systems stabilise. The incident has reignited wider debate in England about water usage, infrastructure resilience, and the need to reduce consumption amid increasing climate pressures and more frequent heatwaves.

The issues are affecting people living in a region located near Newbridge and Kilcullen