The historic spa town of Tunbridge Wells in Kent is enduring a severe public health and logistical crisis, having been left without any running water since Saturday afternoon. For the fifth consecutive day, 24,000 residents across Kent and East Sussex have been unable to perform basic hygiene tasks, flush toilets, or clean their homes, with no clear resolution in sight.
Chaotic Response and Mounting Anger
The crisis began after an incident at a local water treatment works. South East Water's handling of the emergency has been widely condemned as chaotic. The company has issued a series of conflicting estimates for when supplies will return, with one promise for 8am on Tuesday morning still listed on its website at 8.30am. Initially, it claimed only 6,000 customers were affected.
Local MP Mike Martin has been scathing in his criticism, labelling the company's leadership "a total failure" and its emergency response "chaotic". He had to pressure the utility to set up bottled water stations in the correct town after it initially established one in Tonbridge, miles away from the worst-hit area. The CEO, David Hinton, who earns around £450,000 a year, has maintained a low profile throughout the ordeal.
Community Impact and Failed Deliveries
The social and economic fallout is severe. Schools have been closed for two days, care homes and GP surgeries have been without supply, and local businesses like restaurants and hotels are losing crucial revenue at the start of the festive season. Residents are collecting rainwater to flush toilets and giving pets bottled mineral water to drink.
While bottled water stations are now operational in Tunbridge Wells, they present a challenge for elderly and vulnerable residents. Promised home deliveries have largely failed to materialise, forcing people to rely on neighbours for help. The BBC has initiated a rolling news blog to cover the escalating situation.
Calls for Resignation and Systemic Failure
MP Mike Martin has called directly for CEO David Hinton to resign, a demand supported by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who has also urged the government to deploy the army. When asked about the resignation calls, South East Water incident manager Matthew Dean offered only a repeated apology, stating the focus was on restoring supply.
This is not an isolated incident; a similar six-day outage occurred in 2022. The episode has ignited fury over the performance of privatised water monopolies, accused of prioritising shareholder dividends over infrastructure investment and customer service. Despite bills expected to rise by 30% this decade, residents are facing a shambolic service. The crisis underscores urgent calls for stronger regulation and accountability for water company executives.