Supply Too Reliant on One Asset, Says Water Firm Boss
20 hours ago
ShareSave Fiona Irving, South East Environment Correspondent, and Craig Buchan, South East ShareSave
The chief executive of South East Water, David Hinton, has expressed serious concerns about the company’s dependence on individual facilities, following a significant supply failure that impacted thousands of residents in Kent.
Supply Issues Affecting Thousands
– Incident Overview: From November 29 to December 4, approximately 24,000 properties in and around Tunbridge Wells experienced little to no tap water pressure.
– Boil Water Advisory: Following the restoration of water supply, residents were instructed to boil their tap water for nine days due to a disinfection problem at Pembury Water Treatment Works. Fortunately, South East Water confirmed there was no evidence of water contamination.
Call for Improvement and Investment
Hinton acknowledged the shortcomings, stating the company is “just too reliant in some areas on one asset.” He outlined plans to bolster supply resilience:
– Strategic Enhancements: South East Water aims to invest £30 million to expand output capacity at the Bewl Water reservoir, located near Wadhurst in East Sussex.
– Rapid Response Capability: This enhancement would enable the company to quickly supply areas like Tunbridge Wells if supply issues arise, ensuring broader service reliability across Kent.
Addressing Supply Challenges
While the Bewl Water project is a significant initiative, Hinton noted that customer bills could increase as the company seeks regulatory approval for additional funding:
– Price Controls and Customer Bills: South East Water was among five firms contesting Ofwat’s recent price controls, which already proposed raising the average annual customer bill from £232 to £274 by 2030. The Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally agreed to an additional 4% bill increase, subject to final approval in 2026.
– Investigations Underway: Hinton revealed that the company suspects water levels at its Pembury reservoir may have contributed to the supply failure, prompting a full investigation. In addition, hosepipe restrictions were implemented in July due to preceding dry weather conditions.
Conclusion
South East Water’s reliance on a single asset has become a critical issue, sparking calls for accountability and improvement. As Hinton emphasizes the need for strategic investment to enhance supply resilience, residents remain hopeful for more reliable service in the future. The ongoing investigations will further clarify the underlying causes of the recent supply issues, ensuring better preparedness moving forward.
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