Ofwat Launches Investigation into South East Water
Ofwat has initiated an investigation into South East Water (SEW) following significant disruptions in water supply across Kent and Sussex. At the peak of the crisis, 30,000 customers were left without running water, with approximately 10,000 properties still affected.
Investigation Details
– Purpose: To assess SEW’s compliance with its licence conditions regarding customer service and support.
– Statement from SEW: The company will always fully cooperate with any investigation by our regulators and provide any information required.
Lynn Parker, Ofwat’s Senior Director for Enforcement, commented:
– The last six weeks have been miserable for businesses and households across Kent and Sussex due to ongoing supply problems.
– The impact on daily life and local businesses, especially during the festive season, is considerable. This investigation is essential to determine if the company has breached its licence conditions.
Background of the Crisis
The investigation comes after the Prime Minister described the situation affecting 30,000 customers as clearly totally unacceptable, prompting Ofwat to review SEW’s operations. Customers may not see the return of their water supply until Friday, following issues that began on Saturday due to Storm Goretti and a power outage at a pumping station.
Actions Taken by South East Water
– SEW is utilizing 26 water tankers to aid in delivering water directly to its network.
– The company stated it is working around the clock to repair leaks and bursts.
– As of Wednesday at 17:30 GMT, SEW implemented a recovery plan for Tunbridge Wells, keeping local booster pumps off for an additional 36 hours to stabilize supply. The goal is to ensure customers have consistent access to water by Friday morning.
– Local drinking water storage tanks were slow to refill, necessitating the extension of the outage.
Desmond Brown, the incident manager, stated that water supply had returned to 15,500 properties in East Grinstead, with hopes of restoring service to the final 1,000 affected homes overnight.
Additional Challenges
On Wednesday evening, a separate issue arose in the Loose and Coxheath areas, impacting about 2,000 properties. In response, SEW is delivering bottled water to customers on its priority services register, ensuring support for those most in need.
Bottled Water Stations Opening
SEW plans to open four bottled water stations on Thursday:
– East Grinstead Sports Club
– Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club
– Odeon Cinema in Tunbridge Wells
– Mote Park Leisure Centre in Maidstone
Conclusion
As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on the necessary improvements in service quality and resilience from South East Water. Ongoing issues have prompted widespread concern, and proper management is essential to restore confidence among customers in Kent and Sussex.
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