Tunbridge Wells faces another water outage in the Forest Road area, coinciding with South East Water’s CEO testifying at a parliamentary hearing about past supply failures
Water Supply Issues in Tunbridge Wells
A town that faced water issues before Christmas is experiencing another supply problem. This occurred on the same day people were questioned at Westminster about last month’s crisis.
Residents in the south of Tunbridge Wells, near Forest Road, reported no water or low pressure since just after 3 PM today (Tuesday).
South East Water (SEW) stated that the issue is due to “pressure issues” at its site, preventing them from pumping water.
MP Response and Ongoing Issues
MP Mike Martin posted on X: “We have another major outage in South Tunbridge Wells, around Forest Road. I am on the phones and will update shortly.”
This outage coincided with SEW boss David Hinton giving evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) select committee at the Palace of Westminster. He discussed a previous water outage that left 24,000 households without supplies for 14 days.
Previous Water Crisis Details
During the hearing, Marcus Rink, chief inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, mentioned that SEW had been warned about problems at Pembury Treatment Works in December. He noted that the plant was operating “sub-optimally” for weeks.
David Hinton explained that if SEW had conducted the appropriate jar testing, as advised in 2024, the original coagulant chemical would have worked. He stated, “The actual issue that caused the event was a change in the raw water chemistry which we’ve not seen in 20 years.”
Current Situation and Safety Notices
The number of residents affected by today’s outage is not yet known. SEW has been contacted for more information.
During the previous supply issues, which began on November 29, SEW informed customers that water from their taps was unsuitable for drinking, bathing, giving to pets, or brushing teeth.
Water was restored to properties on December 7, but a boil order was issued, requiring all 24,000 customers to boil water before drinking or cooking. This safety notice remained until December 12, when treatment works resumed and the risk of contamination ended.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate warned SEW of a significant risk of failure at the Pembury treatment center in 2024.
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| November 29 | Supply Issues Begin | SEW informed customers water was unsafe. |
| December 7 | Water Restored | Boil order issued for 24,000 customers. |
| December 12 | Boil Order Lifted | Risk of contamination ended. |
| 2024 | Warning Issued | Significant risk of failure at Pembury treatment center. |
