A major incident has been declared across parts of Kent and Sussex after a significant water network failure left around 30,000 homes without running water, causing widespread disruption to households and services.
The outage is linked to a burst water main and a resulting loss of pressure across the local water system. Engineers are carrying out urgent maintenance and repair works as crews work to stabilise the network and restore supply.
Emergency response measures have been activated, including bottled water distribution points and the deployment of water tankers in affected areas. Local councils are coordinating with emergency services under major incident protocols to support residents, particularly vulnerable households, care homes and hospitals.
Residents have been advised to limit water use where possible and to check local guidance on collection points for emergency supplies. Some schools and businesses have reported disruption, while contingency plans have been put in place to protect essential services.
The water company has launched an investigation into the failure and says restoration timelines depend on the progress of repairs and pressure recovery across the system. Regulators are monitoring the situation closely, with renewed scrutiny on ageing water infrastructure and resilience planning amid growing calls for long-term investment.
Authorities say updates will continue as repair work progresses and supply is gradually restored across southeast England.
