Thousands hit with water supply issues in Kent

Residents from more than 7,000 properties across Tunbridge Wells and Pembury are facing water supply disruption due to "instrument failure".

South East Water (SEW) said a problem at a treatment works had affected levels in drinking water storage tanks, meaning supplies could not be pumped properly, particularly to higher areas.

On Saturday, SEW warned supplies would not return "until at least tomorrow morning". Bottled water is being delivered to customers on SEW's priority register, incident manager Robert Anthony-Scorse says.

Residents across Kent and Sussex have experienced multiple water supply failures in recent months, which has seen SEW heavily criticised by regulators and politicians.

Anthony-Scorse said: "We're also working to set up bottled water stations in the Tunbridge Wells area," adding that the the locations would be publicised.

Earlier this week SEW apologised after it was ordered to spend £30.5m on improvements by water regulator Ofwat after repeatedly letting down customers.

Anthony-Scorse, apologised for the problems. "An earlier instrument failure at our water treatment works in the Tunbridge Wells area caused the site to shut down," he said.

"Although the site is now running, this has impacted levels in our local drinking water storage tanks and, coupled with the continued high demand, this means we're unable to pump water to customers, particularly those on higher ground.

"As a result, around 7,000 properties may be experiencing supply issues today, including low pressure, intermittent supply or no water."

The firm, he said, was "working hard" to fix things, adding: "The site is in operation again, however to stabilise water levels in our drinking water tanks, water supplies will not return until at least tomorrow morning.

"We are using tankers to increase drinking water storage levels to help support the affected areas."

In June, Kent MP Tom Tugendhat dubbed the firm the "worst-run company I've ever come across".

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