What is causing the current pressure on South East Water?

The recent disruption of water services in Kent has led Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin to call for the resignation of South East Water's (SEW) chief executive, stating that this latest failure is part of a recurring pattern of issues under the company's management.

Starting on Saturday, up to 24,000 households in Tunbridge Wells, Pembury, Frant, and Eridge were left without water. This is not an isolated occurrence; in July, 3,000 Kent households experienced a six-day water outage.

SEW, which repeatedly updated its restoration estimates, has issued apologies to affected residents. Earlier in the year, a power outage disrupted the company's treatment plant, leaving 5,000 homes in Sevenoaks, Hildenborough, Bidborough, and Tonbridge without water for nearly a week. The summer of 2023 also saw supply problems in Crowborough, Wadhurst, Biddenden, and Staplehurst due to high demand.

The company has previously been scrutinized by Ofwat for failing to maintain consistent household water supply and was labeled the "worst performer for water supply interruptions" in England and Wales.

Cause of the Latest Outage

South East Water attributed the current disruption to a "bad chemical batch" at its Pembury Water Treatment Works. The site has a history of difficulties, with the Drinking Water Inspectorate warning last autumn about a significant risk in its water supply.

SEW is actively investigating the water quality issues at Pembury. Local MP Martin expressed that residents are "utterly furious" with the company's handling and communication of the crisis. SEW's customer services director, Tanya Sefton, acknowledged Martins input regarding bottle station placements and emphasized that "lessons are always learnt in any incident."

Missed Deadlines and Ongoing Impact

The company has failed to meet multiple self-imposed deadlines for restoring water. Despite continuous updates, around 14,000 customers remained without water by Tuesday night. A SEW spokesperson explained that the rapidly evolving situation caused restoration timings to shift repeatedly.

Residents frustration is compounded by previous incidents, including supply problems caused by frozen pipes during Christmas three years ago.

Political Response

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey suggested military assistance to address the crisis, highlighting the severity and ongoing nature of water supply issues in the region.

Author: Sophia Brooks