Almost 6,000 homes hit as South East Water main bursts

5 days ago

Nathan BevanSouth East

Bottled water stations are open and deliveries are being arranged for vulnerable customers after a pipe burst

BBC Men in dayglo yellow overalls hold crates of bottled water — Bottled water stations are open and deliveries are being arranged for vulnerable customers after a pipe burst

Almost 6,000 properties in Kent are experiencing water supply problems after a pipe from a treatment works burst.

South East Water customers in Pembury, Matfield, Brenchley, Horsmonden and surrounding areas have been experiencing low pressure or no water due to a fault on a key main from Bewl Water Treatment Works in East Sussex.

At about 16:00 BST the firm said repairs were complete adding later that all supplies were expected to be returned by Friday morning.

The firm's Steve Benton said: "Water is now returning to the 5,850 properties affected by the burst in Pembury, Matfield, Brenchley, Horsmonden and the surrounding areas."

Almost 6,000 properties are understood to have been affected by the problems

South East Water A pipe in a muddy hole — Almost 6,000 properties are understood to have been affected by the problems

Bottled water stations at Tesco in Pembury and at Matfield Village Hall are now closed.

Previously the firm said ongoing repairs were proving "more complex than expected".

Regulator Ofwat opened an investigation into South East Water in January after repeated water supply failures to thousands of homes.

Lamberhurst St Mary's Church of England VC Primary School closed as it had no access to hot water.

"It is not safe for us to remain open," the school said.

Pembury Primary School has also closed.

Butcher Craig Hammond said it would be impossible for his shop to stay open without water

BBC/Phil Harrison A man with brown hair, blue gilet and check shirt stands in front of a shop with blue window frames. — Butcher Craig Hammond said it would be impossible for his shop to stay open without water

Craig Hammond, who runs a butchers in Matfield, said he was planning to close on Thursday, saying it was impossible to stay open for "hygiene reasons."

Robert Thompson, from Lamberhurst Quarter, said he had little confidence in South East Water.

"Our supply goes off all the time," he said.

'Really sorry'

In March, South East Water chief executive David Hinton told councillors in East Sussex that the widespread supply failures earlier this year had been the result of freeze-thaw conditions causing burst pipes, followed by Storm Goretti.

Some 30,000 properties had no water at the height of the issues, with many taps dry for multiple days, during which Hinton had faced calls to resign.

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