Thousands face water supply misery due to 'high demand'
Getty ImagesMore than 3,230 properties across Kent are experiencing water disruption after "high demand" hit supplies, South East Water has said.
Residents in Loose, Coxheath, Sutton Valence, Kingswood, Headcorn, Ulcombe and the surrounding areas began experiencing low pressure or no water earlier on Thursday.
A SEW spokesperson said it aimed to restore water on Friday, while its tankers continue "injecting water into storage" and its treatment facilities run at "maximum output".
The firm said bottled water was being delivered to "vulnerable residents, medical sites, care homes, farms and Leeds Castle".
In the case of Ulcombe, near Maidstone, residents have been experiencing "ongoing water supply issues" since 24 July, according to SEW.
The firm attributed that disruption to "high demand for drinking water in the hot weather, which means supplies are being used faster than we can refill our pipework".
"We are continuing to provide water to affected properties by tankering directly into the local supply network," said a spokesperson.
They added that crews have been working through the night to tackle the problem and "will maintain these operations until demand decreases and temperatures drop".
Burst mains are also causing water supply issues for those living in parts of Otham, Westbere and Whitstable, along with Haywards Heath in West Sussex.
SEW also said that bottled water stations have been opened at Morrisons on Sutton Road in Maidstone, nearby Mote Park Leisure Centre and the Mercure Hotel in Hollingbourne.
Thousands of homes in the Tonbridge area experienced water supply disruption at the weekend after a pipe burst, causing water to gush out onto the streets.
The issues come amid a period of prolonged hot and dry weather, alongside a hosepipe ban for 2.4 million SEW customers.
SEW has come under fire in recent months after multiple water supply failures in Kent and Sussex.
Some 24,000 SEW customers had no water supply or low pressure between November and December - just weeks later up to 30,000 households faced days of water misery.
Regulator Ofwat has told the company it must spend £30.5m on infrastructure improvements.
Ofwat has also proposed fining the firm £22m over issues affecting 286,000 people in Kent and Sussex between 2020 and 2023.
In addition, SEW's annual report shows it has £1.3bn worth of debt.
However, its new boss John Halsall has pledged to improve both its performance and reputation, but admitted that "a huge challenge" lay ahead.
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