Water back on for majority in Tunbridge Wells
But South East Water say some customers could see intermittent supplies this afternoon
Water supplies have been restored to most people in Tunbridge Wells following outages yesterday, although some on higher ground could face longer delays due to pressure building in the system.
The drinking water storage tank that serves the town has made substantial recovery overnight, allowing boosters to restart earlier this morning.
Residents in South Tunbridge Wells, Pembury, and Bidborough have experienced intermittent water outages as a result of burst pipes and leaks caused by recent freezing and thawing weather patterns.
What is being done?
Water treatment works in the area continue operating at full capacity, and tankers are providing additional water directly into storage tanks and the network.
Repair teams are working around the clock to fix burst pipes and leaks contributing to these issues.
The MP for the area, Mike Martin, has held meetings with the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs and the Drinking Water Inspectorate to verify the information provided by South East Water.
The Borough Council has also been involved in setting up water distribution points and ensuring schools and GP practices have water supplies.
Alternative water supplies
Bottled water is being delivered to Priority Services Register customers who are most in need.
Two bottled water stations are also open as a precaution today between 9am and 9pm:
Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club, St. Marks Recreation Ground, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5LS
Bidborough Village Hall, Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XD
Anyone aware of vulnerable individuals not receiving bottled water can email [email protected] for deliveries to be arranged.
Concerns raised over South East Water
The ongoing situation comes after the CEO of South East Water, Dave Hinton, faced questions this week from MPs at an Environment Committee hearing regarding the company's handling of issues.
Hinton reportedly attributed December's water crisis to external factors rather than decisions by South East Water, prompting criticism from the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water, who described the crisis as avoidable and the company's performance as negligent.
Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of the Environment Committee, has since written to the Chair of South East Water, Chris Train, raising concerns about corporate governance and requesting both Hinton and Train return to the committee to answer further questions.
Mike Martin added he was grateful to Carmichael for aiding in gaining accountability for the recent issues.