Water Supply Disruption in Kent
Almost 6,000 properties in Kent are currently facing water supply issues following a burst pipe originating from a treatment works.
Customers of South East Water in Pembury, Matfield, Brenchley, Horsmonden, and nearby areas have reported experiencing either low water pressure or a complete lack of water. The disruption stems from a fault on a critical main pipe connected to Bewl Water Treatment Works located in East Sussex.
At approximately 16:00 BST, South East Water announced that repairs had been completed. The company later added that it expects all water supplies to be fully restored by Friday morning.
Steve Benton, a representative of the firm, stated:
"Water is now returning to the 5,850 properties affected by the burst in Pembury, Matfield, Brenchley, Horsmonden and the surrounding areas."
Following the restoration efforts, bottled water distribution points at Tesco in Pembury and at Matfield Village Hall have been closed.
Earlier updates from the company indicated that the ongoing repair work was proving to be "more complex than expected."
Regulatory and Community Impact
In January, the water regulator Ofwat initiated an investigation into South East Water due to repeated failures in water supply affecting thousands of homes.
As a result of the water outage, Lamberhurst St Mary's Church of England VC Primary School was forced to close because it lacked access to hot water.
The school explained:
"It is not safe for us to remain open."
Pembury Primary School also closed due to the water supply issues.
Craig Hammond, who operates a butcher shop in Matfield, announced plans to close his business on Thursday, citing hygiene concerns caused by the lack of water.
"It is impossible to stay open for hygiene reasons," Hammond said.
Local resident Robert Thompson from Lamberhurst Quarter expressed his dissatisfaction with the water provider, stating:
"Our supply goes off all the time."
Background and Apology
In March, David Hinton, chief executive of South East Water, addressed councillors in East Sussex regarding the widespread supply failures experienced earlier in the year. He attributed the problems to freeze-thaw conditions that caused pipes to burst, which were subsequently exacerbated by Storm Goretti.
At the peak of these issues, approximately 30,000 properties were without water, with many residents experiencing multiple days without access to running water. During this period, Hinton faced calls to resign from his position.
Stay Connected
For ongoing updates, follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram. To share story ideas, contact southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or send a WhatsApp message to 08081 002250.
