Thousands of homes in Kent faced a second day of water disruption after a major pipe burst on Shipbourne Road in Tonbridge left up to 3,200 properties with no or low pressure. Around 700 customers had supplies restored by the afternoon while crews continued challenging repairs and recovery work. South East Water opened two bottled water distribution points and apologised, but the firm remains under scrutiny after previous outages and a proposed £22m fine by regulator Ofwat. New chief executive John Halsall says he faces a "huge challenge" to improve performance and public trust.
Water Crisis in Tonbridge: Up to 3,200 Homes Affected After Major Pipe Burst
Up to 3,200 properties have been affected, South East Water said [BBC]
Thousands of households across Kent are enduring a second day of disrupted water supply after a large pipe burst on Shipbourne Road in Tonbridge. South East Water (SEW) said up to 3,200 homes had no water or were experiencing very low pressure after the pipe ruptured, sending water gushing onto the road.
Repairs Underway and Emergency Support
By the afternoon, SEW reported that around 700 customers had their supplies restored, but crews remained on site continuing challenging repair work. "Our crew are on site and digging down through concrete to locate the main. This is proving to be quite challenging," the company said.
To support affected residents, SEW has opened two bottled water distribution points at Sovereign Way East Car Park and Tonbridge Farm Sports Centre. Both sites were reported open from 07:00 BST.
Wider Context and Regulatory Action
The burst comes during a prolonged spell of hot, dry weather, which has increased pressure on water supplies and public concern about leaks and outages. SEW has faced criticism following a string of recent failures: some 24,000 customers experienced no water or low pressure between November and December, and weeks later up to 30,000 households endured days without reliable service.
John Halsall, SEW's new chief executive, has admitted he faces a "huge challenge" to restore performance and public trust. He succeeded David Hinton, who reportedly earned £400,000 and was awarded a £115,000 bonus in 2024. Regulator Ofwat has proposed fining South East Water £22 million over problems that affected about 286,000 people across Kent and Sussex between 2020 and 2023.
Campaigners say SEW is losing roughly 100 million litres of water each day through leaks, a claim that has intensified public frustration amid recurring outages. SEW has apologised for the disruption and said teams are working to restore supplies as quickly and safely as possible.
Advice for Residents
Residents should check official SEW updates and local news for the latest repair times, visit the bottled water stations if needed, and contact SEW or local authorities if they require additional support. If you have an urgent medical or sanitation need, prioritise contacting emergency services or local council support teams.
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