Fourth Day of Water Shortage Affects Thousands in Tunbridge Wells

Residents in Tunbridge Wells are facing a critical situation as the water shortage continues into its fourth day. South East Water (SEW) reported that approximately 18,000 properties are still without water supply, impacting thousands of households.

Current Status of Water Restoration

On Monday evening, SEW announced that water had been restored to around 5,000 customers. Efforts are underway to ensure the remaining properties regain access to water by Tuesday morning.

Cause of the Water Shortage

The disruption began on Saturday night when the Pembury Water Treatment Works halted operations. According to SEW, this occurred due to a “bad chemical batch,” which has been identified as the primary cause of the ongoing issues.

Political Reactions

• Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin is vocal about the crisis.
• He has called for the resignation of SEW’s CEO, David Hinton.
• Martin characterized the situation as “a total failure of leadership.”

Future Actions and Expectations

SEW is under pressure to resolve the ongoing water shortages swiftly. Residents are eager for a return to normalcy as the wait stretches into the fourth day.