Tunbridge Wells residents are facing another water crisis, this time for a second time in just a few weeks. The local water treatment centre was forced to shut down at the end of November due to maintenance issues, leaving 24,000 households without water for two weeks. Now, around 30,000 homes across Sussex and Kent have been affected by freezing weather causing leaks in South East Water's ageing pipe network.
Schools have closed, businesses have shut their doors, and pubs and restaurants have had to cancel services due to the lack of water. For many residents, this is a familiar feeling, with Gary describing his experience as "Groundhog day". With no end date in sight for when the water will be restored, people are struggling to cope with the shortage.
The situation has been exacerbated by the freezing weather, which has caused widespread disruptions to the water supply. The company's chief executive, David Hinton, was unavailable for comment, despite criticism of his leadership and lack of accountability for the crisis.
As one resident said, "We can't even get water from our taps". The Consumer Council for Water has warned that South East Water is woefully unprepared to deal with climate change and extreme weather events. The company's response to the crisis has been described as inadequate, with some calling for Hinton to step down.
The situation has also highlighted the need for improved investment in the water infrastructure. Kama Bass said, "It's just grim. I've had almost no water for a week... It's going to be months before we get our normal supply back". The full extent of the damage is still unclear, but one thing is certain - this is not an isolated incident.
For now, residents are being forced to rely on bottled water and makeshift solutions, such as collecting water from nearby towns. As Scott Richardson said, "It's costing businesses fortunes... He should be handing that back". The crisis has also had a knock-on effect on local businesses, with many struggling to cope without a steady supply of water.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear - something needs to change. South East Water must take responsibility for its actions and commit to improving the resilience of its network. Until then, residents will continue to suffer the consequences of the company's failures.
Schools have closed, businesses have shut their doors, and pubs and restaurants have had to cancel services due to the lack of water. For many residents, this is a familiar feeling, with Gary describing his experience as "Groundhog day". With no end date in sight for when the water will be restored, people are struggling to cope with the shortage.
The situation has been exacerbated by the freezing weather, which has caused widespread disruptions to the water supply. The company's chief executive, David Hinton, was unavailable for comment, despite criticism of his leadership and lack of accountability for the crisis.
As one resident said, "We can't even get water from our taps". The Consumer Council for Water has warned that South East Water is woefully unprepared to deal with climate change and extreme weather events. The company's response to the crisis has been described as inadequate, with some calling for Hinton to step down.
The situation has also highlighted the need for improved investment in the water infrastructure. Kama Bass said, "It's just grim. I've had almost no water for a week... It's going to be months before we get our normal supply back". The full extent of the damage is still unclear, but one thing is certain - this is not an isolated incident.
For now, residents are being forced to rely on bottled water and makeshift solutions, such as collecting water from nearby towns. As Scott Richardson said, "It's costing businesses fortunes... He should be handing that back". The crisis has also had a knock-on effect on local businesses, with many struggling to cope without a steady supply of water.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear - something needs to change. South East Water must take responsibility for its actions and commit to improving the resilience of its network. Until then, residents will continue to suffer the consequences of the company's failures.
. I mean, can't our water companies just prepare for extreme weather events like climate change? It feels like they're always caught off guard and it's affecting so many people's lives. 30,000 homes without water is a disaster 
. And the fact that the CEO is being criticized for his leadership but can't even comment on this crisis is appalling 
. We need better investment in our water infrastructure and some accountability for these companies. It's not like we're asking for much, just reliable access to clean water 
. This is not a minor issue, it's a major one that needs fixing ASAP! 
this is getting ridiculous, i mean, 2 water crises in a few weeks? what's going on?! south east water needs a major overhaul, like, now 
. they're just not prepared for climate change and extreme weather events, which is basically what we're seeing here 
. and david hinton, the ceo, is just not answering questions or taking responsibility... that's just unacceptable 
. i feel so bad for these people who are struggling to cope without water 
. bottled water and collecting it from nearby towns? come on! this is a basic human need 
. something needs to change, stat 
! It feels like Groundhog Day for these people, with no end date in sight for their water woes. The situation has gotta be a wake-up call for South East Water to step up its game and invest in upgrading that ageing pipe network 
. As a resident would say, "We can't even get water from our taps" 
... it's just grim. And yeah, David Hinton needs to be held accountable for his leadership 
. Bottled water isn't a solution, and makeshift solutions are just gonna keep people struggling 
... it's time for change!
it's like we're reliving groundhog day 
some businesses are even closing down because of the lack of water 
it's just not fair on the residents
this is getting ridiculous 
24k households were out for 2 weeks last month too! what's going on with these pipes? 
shouldnt be a hard thing to fix 
4th time in as many months, south east water needs an overhaul 
or else these crises will keep happening 
schools, businesses, pubs, restaurants... everyone's being affected 
! And it's not like they're the only ones affected, right? Like 30k homes are struggling with pipes bursting due to freezing temps 
This whole situation has got me feeling like we're stuck in some kind of Groundhog Day nightmare 
. This is just ridiculous - no water from taps? How are people supposed to cope with that for months?! 
The Consumer Council for Water is right on the money - South East Water is woefully unprepared for climate change and extreme weather events. This crisis needs to be taken seriously and fixed ASAP 
. I mean, how can you lead a company and not have a plan for extreme weather events? It's just basic common sense 
. And now the whole town is suffering because of it, with schools closed, businesses shut down... it's like Groundhog Day, for real 
. Someone needs to take responsibility here and fix it ASAP 
.
ugh this is getting so frustrating! 
can't the CEO even be bothered to comment on this? 
my school closed today because they couldn't even get water out of their taps... schools should not have to close like that, kids deserve better 
.
. I'm so done with bottled water too... who pays for that kinda convenience? 
I mean, have you seen Paul Hollywood's face when someone messes up a soufflé? 
It's just priceless! Anyway, back to water crises... I feel so bad for those people in Tunbridge Wells. I've been there, done that with my old laptop, and it's no fun at all when everything grinds to a halt 
It's not just the ppl who are affected, it's also the businesses and schools... what's next? 
It's like Groundhog Day for these ppl 
They need to step up their game 
30k+ homes in sussex & kent are out of water rn & it's like groundhog day for tunbridge wells residents lol 
we need accountability now! 
