28 May 2026
Image description: An outdoor water tap in sharp focus, with a blurred green background. Photo by Luis Tosta on Unsplash Record heat, record demand Across the UK’s hottest May bank holiday on record, temperatures hit 35°C at Heathrow and South East Water in Kent and Sussex found its system pushed beyond capacity. Demand peaked at 670 […]
06 May 2026
Image description: Rows of bottled water. Photo by Jonathan Chng on Unsplash Chair steps down following parliamentary report highlighting poor leadership The chair of South East Water (SEW), Chris Train, has resigned following the publication of a highly critical report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee, which accused the company of […]
30 Apr 2026
Image description: Hand water pump pouring out water. Photo by Jainath Ponnala on Unsplash South East Water has lost an appeal against a fine of £76,000 for extracting water from an underground source without the necessary permission from the Environment Agency (EA). For six weeks between May and June 2021, the company illegally took […]
26 Mar 2026
Image description: Aerial shot of bewl water reservoir in the South East of England during sunset. Image by Jack B / Unsplash Dr Mike Martin, the Liberal Democrat MP representing Tunbridge Wells, has urged Ofwat to scrap the proposed £22 million penalty against South East Water and instead compel the company to reinvest the money directly into improving water infrastructure. The intervention follows Ofwat’s recent enforcement action […]
19 Mar 2026
Image description: A housebuilder working on the frame of a house-building project. Photo by Josh Olalde on Unsplash House-building plans in Kent are in jeopardy after South East Water has warned that it has the capacity to supply water to only one third of all the new homes being planned. The blueprint for 23,000 […]
12 Mar 2026
Image description: A person holding out a glass filled with water. The glass is in sharp focus while the person is blurred in the background. Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash. Ofwat fines South East Water £22m Ofwat has announced South East Water is to be fined £22m for repeated supply failures in Kent […]
12 Feb 2026
Image description: Overlapping pound notes. Image by Pixabay A Guardian exclusive has reported ministers are planning to close legal loopholes surrounding bans on water boss bonuses, after legislation brought in last year was reportedly ‘outwitted’ and failing firms continue to pay millions to executives. Attempted ban The previous environment secretary Steve Reed attempted to […]
15 Jan 2026
Photo description: A hand wearing a wristwatch holding a glass under running water. Image by Swanky Fella / Unsplash Kent County Council has declared a major incident after approximately 30,000 homes across Kent and Sussex lost water supply, with some residents enduring five days without running water. The crisis has forced schools and libraries […]
