Storm goretti leaves 30,000 without water for six days in kent and sussex

After nearly a week of water disruption, most homes across Kent and Sussex finally have their taps flowing again following one of the region’s most significant utility outages in recent memory.

The crisis began last Saturday when Storm Goretti battered the southeastern counties, leaving up to 30,000 South East Water (SEW) customers without water supply or facing severely reduced pressure. The powerful storm caused widespread damage to the water infrastructure, bursting pipes and triggering power cuts that cascaded through the distribution network.

The prolonged outage highlighted the vulnerability of aging water infrastructure to extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly common due to climate change. Residents struggled with basic daily activities, from cooking and cleaning to maintaining hygiene, while local businesses faced operational challenges during the six-day crisis.

South East Water worked around the clock to restore service, deploying emergency crews to repair damaged pipes and restore power to critical pumping stations. The incident raises important questions about infrastructure resilience as the UK faces more frequent and intense storms. While most customers now have restored service, the utility company continues monitoring the system and completing final repairs to ensure stable water pressure across the affected areas.

This latest disruption serves as a stark reminder of how extreme weather events can severely impact essential services, underscoring the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure investments to protect communities from future storms.