Water Supply Restored After Outages in Kent and East Sussex Amid Infrastructure Concerns
Published 25 December 2025
Highlights
- A power outage in Kent disrupted water supplies to nearly 100 properties, now restored by South East Water.
- A burst water main in East Sussex left some homes without water on Christmas Day, affecting fewer than 100 customers.
- Southern Water faced criticism for ongoing infrastructure issues, with MP Helena Dollimore calling for improvements.
- Bottled water stations were set up in affected areas, with gradual improvements reported as reservoir levels rose.
- Past incidents highlight recurring infrastructure challenges, with previous outages and environmental issues noted.
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Rewritten Article
Headline: Water Supply Restored After Outages in Kent and East Sussex Amid Infrastructure Concerns
A series of water supply disruptions in Kent and East Sussex have been addressed, following a power outage and a burst water main that left numerous households without water over the Christmas period. The incidents have reignited concerns over the region's aging water infrastructure.
Kent Power Outage and Restoration
In Kent, nearly 100 properties experienced water supply interruptions due to a power cut at a processing facility in Bayleys Hill, Sevenoaks. South East Water confirmed that the issue was resolved by Friday afternoon, allowing water to be gradually reintroduced to the network. Steve Benton, the water company's incident manager, explained that the outage had impacted the boosters essential for water distribution. Residents were provided with bottled water at a local station during the disruption.
East Sussex Burst Pipe Incident
Meanwhile, in East Sussex, a burst water main near Hastings led to water shortages on Christmas Day, affecting fewer than 100 customers. Southern Water attributed the disruption to low levels at the Fairlight reservoir, exacerbated by a brief power outage at the Brede water supply works. The company deployed tankers to inject water into the network, with bottled water stations set up to assist residents. Tania Flasck, director of water operations, reported that reservoir levels were improving, and most customers had their supply restored.
Infrastructure Challenges and Political Response
The incidents have drawn criticism from local leaders, including Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings and Rye, who expressed frustration over Southern Water's handling of the situation. Dollimore highlighted the town's ongoing infrastructure challenges, citing previous outages and environmental issues as evidence of systemic neglect. She urged Southern Water to prioritize improvements and ensure adequate water supply, particularly for local businesses during the busy holiday season.
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Scenario Analysis
The recent water supply disruptions in Kent and East Sussex underscore the pressing need for infrastructure upgrades in the region. As Southern Water and South East Water work to address these challenges, there is potential for increased regulatory scrutiny and public pressure to expedite improvements. The involvement of local political figures like Helena Dollimore may further amplify calls for accountability and investment in the water network. Moving forward, the companies may face demands for transparent action plans to prevent future outages and ensure reliable water services for residents.
A series of water supply disruptions in Kent and East Sussex have been addressed, following a power outage and a burst water main that left numerous households without water over the Christmas period. The incidents have reignited concerns over the region's aging water infrastructure.
Kent Power Outage and Restoration
In Kent, nearly 100 properties experienced water supply interruptions due to a power cut at a processing facility in Bayleys Hill, Sevenoaks. South East Water confirmed that the issue was resolved by Friday afternoon, allowing water to be gradually reintroduced to the network. Steve Benton, the water company's incident manager, explained that the outage had impacted the boosters essential for water distribution. Residents were provided with bottled water at a local station during the disruption.
East Sussex Burst Pipe Incident
Meanwhile, in East Sussex, a burst water main near Hastings led to water shortages on Christmas Day, affecting fewer than 100 customers. Southern Water attributed the disruption to low levels at the Fairlight reservoir, exacerbated by a brief power outage at the Brede water supply works. The company deployed tankers to inject water into the network, with bottled water stations set up to assist residents. Tania Flasck, director of water operations, reported that reservoir levels were improving, and most customers had their supply restored.
Infrastructure Challenges and Political Response
The incidents have drawn criticism from local leaders, including Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings and Rye, who expressed frustration over Southern Water's handling of the situation. Dollimore highlighted the town's ongoing infrastructure challenges, citing previous outages and environmental issues as evidence of systemic neglect. She urged Southern Water to prioritize improvements and ensure adequate water supply, particularly for local businesses during the busy holiday season.
What this might mean
The recent water supply disruptions in Kent and East Sussex underscore the pressing need for infrastructure upgrades in the region. As Southern Water and South East Water work to address these challenges, there is potential for increased regulatory scrutiny and public pressure to expedite improvements. The involvement of local political figures like Helena Dollimore may further amplify calls for accountability and investment in the water network. Moving forward, the companies may face demands for transparent action plans to prevent future outages and ensure reliable water services for residents.
