14,000 homes in Tunbridge Wells still without water after four days
Last updated 2nd Dec 2025
Thousands of people remain without water in their homes for a fourth day after a "water quality issue" at a treatment plant in Kent.
South East Water (SEW) has apologised to its customers in and around Tunbridge Wells, Kent, who have experienced a loss of water or low pressure since Saturday.
Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin told the BBC that the incident had been "a total failure of leadership" and called for the chief executive of SEW Dave Hinton to resign.
Up to 24,000 properties were initially affected on Saturday evening, with roughly 14,000 still without water on Tuesday morning.
SEW incident manager Marc Sims said: "I'm very sorry to all our customers in Tunbridge Wells who have yet to see water return to their taps.
"Around 10,000 properties have had their supplies restored already, with more returning throughout today as we slowly return water to the network to avoid any bursts and airlocks on the network.
"The number of properties currently without water is around 14,000.
"As water supplies return, customers may experience discolouration.
"This is normal and happens when naturally occurring deposits, which settle and build up within our network of water mains over time, are disturbed."
The incident began on the evening of November 29, after a "water quality issue" at the Pembury Water Treatment Works.
Three bottled water stations have been opened across Tunbridge Wells by the company until supplies return.
Those stations are at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, Odeon Cinema Knights Way and RCP Parking.
The company also said it has tankered more than six million litres of water and handed out 400,000 litres in bottled water to keep supplies running.