24,000 UK homes without water

[MichelleMonBelle]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/03/tunbridge-wells-water-shortage-five-days/

This is appalling!

Yep, my brother is one of them. I haven’t read the article but it’s a nightmare and was raised at PMQs today.

It’s just appalling in this day and age

Yep, I'm living this nightmare currently....we still don't appear to have water this morning either, despite the promises.

And even once it does come back, the use of it is very limited - they are saying it is "chemically safe" but if we can't drink it, then what on earth is in it??

We aren't getting answers and it's absolutely ridiculous in this day and age to have thousands without water for almost a week with seemingly NO contingency planning, comms - or sight of SE Water. Our MP is doing an amazing job trying to get answers and keeping us informed.

It is dreadful, how this be happening in 2025? Poor people. This is a public health issue now. Imagine the spread of infections going on as people are unable to keep themselves clean, infections and sickness bugs will be spreading.

According to the Times, the CEO of South East water is on £400k per year, not including bonuses. This is a 30% increase from last year. Nice work if you can get it. Meanwhile everyone’s bills have shot up, no doubt to pay that useless fucks salary.

I can't believe how poorly publicized this is - or maybe it's just too far south?
When places had no electricity, it was all over the news. I only saw about this yesterday.

@Panicmode1 we used to live in a country where the water wasn't fit to drink, but was fine for everything else. Ours was just a bit salty due to the way it was processed. I suspect when you water returns, yours will be similar - they've increased the chemicals to make sure it's not a health hazard, but that makes it unpleasant to consume. I'd be happy to wash people with it, flush the loo etc if that is the message they send out.

panic has it been back on enough times to do things like flush the toilet properly?

It sounded awful on Monday when I first heard about it. Can't believe they've made such a mess that it's still going on.

The message is to boil it for even washing surfaces and children cannot bathe in it! 🤮 but apparently it is fine for adults to shower in it?! But many still don’t even have the disgusting, dirty water restored. So zero water since Saturday night. And today is Thursday.

• Many schools are closed due to no water
• Care home can’t wash laundry
• The specialist kidney hospital can’t run dialysis
• Small businesses have lost days of trade (hairdressers, cleaners, pubs, restaurants)

I live in a neighbouring town but my son’s school is in Twells so he has been at home all week. He’s doing his GCSE’s so this is major disruption at a crucial time. Please get on Facebook, if you aren’t already, as people will help you. You can go to peoples homes and do your laundry and fill up bottles. I am so sorry this happening to you all.

I also have a GCSE child - he was supposed to have a mock language exam today.

Haven't been able to flush a loo, and advice is not to wash clothes unless it's at 70 degrees...which means I can wash anything other than bedding and towels really...although we need water for that and still don't have any....

Privatisation of public services, criminal.

I'm sure the shareholders and big bosses will be taking good money from profits, whilst little is reinvested into providing a basic, essential service.

Well done Conservative policy.

Sorry, I meant can only wash bedding and towels.....

It is unforgivable to be paying so much for these monopoly companies ..we can't stop paying, they will cut us off. And we can't choose a different supplier. The CEO (Dave Hinton) is paid more than the head of the NHS and hasn't been seen in public since this crisis started.

Sounds awful. I'm so sorry to anyone who's affected. I hope it's sorted quickly!

He's refusing to be interviewed by the BBC South team. Dreadful. I am not affected this time but we had issues in March. I am TMBC and my MP is kicking up a right old stink in Parliament. We still have a hosepipe ban. How long has it been raining?

An awful situation for all in Tunbridge Wells.
No.indication of when normal supply to be resumed. Water for most usage has to be boiled. Everyone suffering, no normal laundry, cleaning, bathing of children. Schools closed, businesses suffering. Dentists closed.
A CEO who hasn't given an interview since it all began.
Privatisation was the worst thing for water and other commodities. Shouldn't be about profit, high salaries and bonuses but about investment in the system.
They need to be honest and say what's going on.