Thousands more homes across Kent are without water due to “critically low” tanks.
South East Water (SEW) bosses have confirmed 3,290 properties in Sutton Valence, Headcorn, Kingswood and surrounding areas are currently experiencing low water pressure or no water, while hundreds more in Whitstable and Romney Marsh continue to be affected.
South East Water will be setting up bottled water stations in the area
SEW incident manager Matthew Dean has apologised to those experiencing problems.
He told KentOnline: “Due to prolonged hot weather and extreme demand, local storage tank levels are critically low.
“To protect the network and allow levels to recover, supplies will unfortunately be interrupted for around 3,290 properties, with intermittent supplies likely over the coming days. Because levels must build back up, we cannot provide a specific restoration time.
“Our teams are working 24/7 to move water where it’s needed – operating treatment works at maximum capacity, tankering and injecting water into the network where possible, and fixing local leaks.
“We apologise for the disruption and thank everyone for their patience and support.”
People first started experiencing problems at about 9am due to “ low storage levels caused by higher demand during the warmer weather”.
3,290 properties in Sutton Valence, Headcorn, Kingswood and surrounding areas are currently experiencing low water pressure or no water. Picture: SEW
SEW added that it is delivering bottled water to vulnerable customers, supporting farms and critical sites, and providing Leeds Castle with a tanker and bottled water.
It will also be setting up bottled water stations in the area.
People living in parts of Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable are also continuing to experience water problems, while further issues are now being reported in Newchurch on Romney Marsh.
Currently, a burst water main is leading to low pressure in the Island Road, Hersden area, while neighbours in Bredlands Lane, Westbere are also facing the same problem.
The operator has also apologised to customers in Whitstable who continue to have supply issues as teams work “around the clock” to fix a burst water main.
The company said the repair is “proving to be quite complex” and customers would be updated as soon as possible adding: “Once again, we’re really sorry for the interruption.”
South East Water’s John Halsall took over as chief executive in July. Picture: South East Water
Mr Dean added: “Due to unprecedented, prolonged hot weather and record-low rainfall across Kent, drinking water storage tanks in the Herne Bay and Whitstable areas remain critically low. While the majority of customers are currently in supply, high demand creates a real risk of sudden interruptions.
“We are deeply sorry to the 66 properties in the Radfall area experiencing low pressure or no water following a burst water main on Radfall Road last night. Technicians are on site to complete repairs.
“Across the wider region, we are working around the clock – tankering water into storage tanks, maximising treatment works, and deploying extra teams to repair leaks.
“We are asking all customers to use water for essential purposes only: drinking, cooking, and hygiene, in line with the temporary usage ban across our entire supply area. These small actions will allow our storage tanks to refill.”
At 6pm SEW said the burst had been fixed and supplies were slowly returning.
Meanwhile, residents in Egerton House Road, near Ashford, and villagers in Newchurch on Romney Marsh are also facing the same problem, with bosses announcing they are “doing everything we can to get you back up and running as soon as possible”.
A spokesperson for SEW said: “Our team are in the process of repairing a burst water main in Newchurch on the Romney Marsh.
“The burst, which occurred this morning [Thursday], is affecting our ability to pump water to around 150 properties in the village.
“We’re sorry to any customers that may be experiencing low water pressure or loss of supply whilst we carry out this repair.”
The Environment Agency (EA) has placed Kent and South London into drought status after prolonged hot, dry weather and record-low rainfall.
Over the weekend, thousands of people in Tonbridge were without water after a burst pipe damaged a large water main.
More than 2,000 households were without supplies after a burst pipe in Shipbourne Road damaged a large water main supplying the town.
READ MORE: South East Water boss John Halsall promises £1.9 billion investment after replacing David Hinton
Last month, new SEW boss, John Halsall, promised a £1.9 billion infrastructure boost to “really focus” on fixing leaks and other problems.
He replaced the under-fire David Hinton following months of pressure from MPs and residents after thousands of homes and businesses were left without supplies.
Mr Halsall has announced SEW will be ploughing resources into long-term “sustainable improvements” and taking “small actions” to improve the service during the next nine months.
The huge cash injection will go towards more storage tanks and reservoirs as well as improving water treatment works.
It would also be spent on changing the way water is moved around pipes in the south east.