Water Disruptions

South East Water has reported a number of issues in Tunbridge Wells due to the cold weather.

South East Water customers across several parts of Tunbridge Wells are once again experiencing issues with their water supply.

Water has been intermittently off and on in South Tunbridge Wells and Bidborough due to a series of burst pipes reducing the levels in water storage tanks. Reservoir levels are so low that a continuous stream of water is having to be delivered by tankers each day. Therefore, when bursts or network outages occur, customers are even more vulnerable to long periods without water.

Water supply in South Tunbridge Wells is back on with low pressure, and it will be intermittent during the day as SEW plays catch-up with the supply (currently in a deficit). The burst main in Bidborough has now been fixed, and supply should start to return soon.

You can pick up bottled water from the following locations until 9pm On Thursday:

(1) Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club, St. Marks Recreation Ground, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5LS.

(2) Bidborough Village Hall, Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XD - NOW CLOSED

UPDATE - FRIDAY 9TH

For the Bidborough area - South East Water are reporting that the storage issues at the site that supplies the water has now been resolved and the water should now be flowing as normal. However, if your water looks brown in colour, you should not worry as it is not harmful. This happens when small particles of iron within the mains are disturbed. Simply run from your cold kitchen tap until the water is clear. 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.

For other parts of Tunbridge Wells - South East Water are reporting that drinking water has returned to all customers, however, customers will experience no water and intermittent supplies again later in the day, while demand for water outstrips the amount they can pump into the network.

They would like to reassure customers that Pembury Water Treatment Works is currently running at full capacity. However, due to the weather conditions, they have experienced outages at a number of other water treatment works sites as well as river water quality issues across Kent and Sussex. This is slowing down the recovery of the drinking water storage tanks across the supply area.

The bottled water station will be open from 9am until 10pm on Friday 9th at Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club, St. Marks Recreation Ground, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5LS

Customers in impacted areas who are on the Priority Services Register are having bottled water delivered to them by the Customer Care Team.

For further information you can visit: https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/help/works-and-outages/