Residents in Kent are expressing frustration as their water supply from South East Water was disrupted during a severe heatwave. The interruption affected tens of thousands of customers in the southeast, with around 8,000 people in Whitstable left without water and 14,000 experiencing low pressure in areas like Tankerton and Ashford, leading to business closures.
By Thursday, the number of people facing water supply issues rose to 22,000, with warnings that the problems could persist into the weekend. One resident, Pat Prestage, described feeling furious and powerless when their water supply ceased on Wednesday evening. The situation was exacerbated by the struggle to contact South East Water’s emergency line, resulting in a long wait for water the next day.
Criticism was also directed at the company for its response to the crisis, with residents highlighting the lack of adequate preparation and infrastructure. Another customer, a 90-year-old living alone, described the situation as “disgusting” and “ridiculous.”
South East Water assured that efforts were underway to resolve the issues, with some customers already seeing improvements. However, intermittent water supply was expected to continue for many residents over the weekend, particularly in areas like Whitstable and Cranbrook. The company urged affected individuals to limit water usage to essential needs while the situation persisted.