36 h. ago Troubled waters: How the UK’s water companies became a national disgrace

Outages in Kent and Sussex this week became the latest in a long list of breakdowns in the UK’s creaking water system. Harry Cockburn asks how Britain can solve its utilities crisis

Events

51 h. ago Water bosses branded 'useless drips' as households still stuck in supply drought chaos

Despite South East Water bosses' claim they have restored water to most homes in Kent and Sussex, residents are raging as they can barely get a drip out of their taps due to a new 'low pressure' issue.

Economics

58 h. ago Teacher forced to flush school toilets with buckets amid South East Water outage

Embattled South East Water says supplies have finally been restored to thousands of customers in Kent and Sussex but firm still risks losing its licence in wake of latest incident

Politics

59 h. ago Water restored to most Kent and Sussex homes after six days’ disruption

Up to 30,000 customers of South East Water had no supply or low pressure at height of incidentWater has been restored to most homes across Kent and Sussex after almost a week of disruption.South East Water (SEW) said the outage, which began on Saturday, was the result of Storm Goretti causing burst pipes and power cuts. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Water finally restored to some of 30,000 customers hit by week of disruption

South East Water has faced intense criticism from MPs and the public

Economics

60 h. ago Water restored to most homes in Kent and Sussex after six days of disruption

South East Water blamed the outage, which began on Saturday, on Storm Goretti causing burst pipes and power cuts.

Politics

3 d. ago Moment delivery man removes water bottles from doorstep of Kent home that's been left without supply for more than a week

The bizarre Ring doorbell footage was captured outside the home of Sam Purslow, 35, from Tunbridge Wells, who has been without water for over a week due to issues at South East Water.

Society

3 d. ago Troubled water firm faces sack for leaving 30,000 homes high and dry for days

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds has called on the regulator Ofwat to review South East Water's operating licence after leaving properties in Kent and West Sussex dry

Events

3 d. ago What are my rights as a South East Water customer amid latest supply outage?

Around 8,500 SEW customers are still without drinking water for a sixth day.

Economics

3 d. ago South East Water: Who owns the supplier that’s landed in hot water?

Like many UK utilities firms, South East Water has a complicated ownership structure with multiple streams of largely foreign investment.

Politics

3 d. ago South East Water could have licence revoked amid fears water supply issues could take days to resolve

Thousands of properties in Kent and Sussex left without drinking water for the sixth day running

Politics

3 d. ago Probe launched into South East Water after outages have left thousands of homes without water amid freezing temperatures

Regulator Ofwat has launched an investigation into South East Water after repeated outages have left thousands of households across Kent and Sussex without drinking water.

Politics

3 d. ago Ofwat launches probe into South East Water over supply outages

The regulator said it will investigate whether the supplier has complied with its customer service standards obligations.

Politics

4 d. ago MPs call for removal of water boss amid continuing ‘totally shambolic’ outages

17,000 properties in Kent and Sussex remain without water for the fifth day

Politics

4 d. ago Water firm boss warns households with no supply that bills must rise anyway

South East Water chairman Chris Train said customers must pay more to prevent further shortages, despite East Grinstead, West Sussex, and Tunbridge Wells, Kent having no reliable supply

Events

4 d. ago Ministers holding emergency meetings as 17,000 properties remain without water

South East Water has blamed the latest supply failure on Storm Goretti causing burst pipes and power cuts.

Politics

4 d. ago 17,000 properties remain without water in Kent and Sussex on fifth day

South East Water has blamed the latest supply failure on Storm Goretti causing burst pipes and power cuts.

Politics

4 d. ago ‘It’s pretty grim’: Tunbridge Wells residents struggle through several days without water – again

South East Water blames bad weather as pubs are forced to close, toilets overflow and people go without showersAs the residents of Tunbridge Wells trudged down their sodden high street in the pouring rain, the idea that they had run out of water – for the second time in just a few weeks – seemed farcical.At the end of November the local water treatment centre, which had been flagged as at risk by the regulator in 2024, was forced to shut down, leaving 24,000 households without water for two weeks. The Drinking Water Inspectorate later said this outage was foreseen and was due to a lack of maintenance at the site. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago ‘It’s a shambles’: Anger grows at South East Water CEO as thousands without water ‘until at least the weekend’

‘Not only is the infrastructure depleted, but the leadership is rubbish,’ local MP says

Politics

5 d. ago 'Resign!' Leader of Kent Council urges water boss to quit after supply crisis in London's commuter belt

Linden Kemkaran, Reform UK Leader of Kent County Council, said South East Water’s chief executive David Hinton should consider his position

Politics