Tap Water Return Promised

South East Water says fresh water supplies should be restored to 24,000 people in Tunbridge Wells during Monday.

In the meantime, bottled water will continue to be supplied from three sites: St John's Sports Centre, the RCP car park at the bottom of Major York's Road and the Knight's Park Cinema site.

Most schools throught Tunbridge Wells will be closed on Monday. The Amelia Scott is also closed.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells, Mike Martin, spoke to West Kent Radio on Monday morning about the performance of South East Water: "It's been an absolute disaster....people are furious."  Listen to his interview here:

Mike Martin said that South East Water had promised to improve their resiliance and crisis management after the loss of water in Tunbridge Wells for nearly a week three years ago.  But he said: "No lessons have been learnt. Communication has been appaling."

Latest updates from South East Water here:
https://aqualerter.southeastwater.co.uk/interruption/138030

Listen to an update by West Kent Radio presenter Brian Johnson recorded at 8.10am from the new Hannah Wing live Monday Breakfast programme. Brian was talking to Zac Daunt-Jones as part of his report.

A statement issued at 9am on Monday by South East Water said:

Overnight we have managed to fill our drinking water storage tanks at Pembury Water Treatment Works to a good level and are now slowly sending water to our drinking water storage tank at Blackhurst.

"Blackhurst, is the tank which supplies the town with water. This process has been slow overnight to ensure we don't cause any further issues to the network, however we expect customer supplies to start returning throughout the day today.

"There will be airlocks in the system, and we have teams out and about clearing them as and when they become apparent. When the water supply returns, you may experience discolouration.

"If your water looks brown in colour, please don't worry as it is not harmful. This happens when small particles of iron within the mains are disturbed. Your water may also appear cloudy, or white. If you fill a glass of water and it clears from the bottom upwards then this means your water is just a little more aerated than usual. Simply run the water from your cold kitchen tap until the water is clear.

"Until supplies are fully restored, bottled water stations will be open from 8:30am at the following locations:
Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, St John's Rd, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN4 9TX
RCP Parking, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TP
Odeon Cinema Knights Way, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3UW