Water Supply Failure Traced to Power Outage
Both terminals at Gatwick Airport experienced a complete loss of water supply on Sunday afternoon, forcing the closure of toilets, restaurants, and bars across the West Sussex airport. The airport issued an apology on social media platform X, explaining that a problem in the Horley area was affecting supplies and was under investigation.
The disruption stems from a power outage at SES Water's Bough Beech Water Treatment Works, which serves parts of Kent, Surrey, south London, and the airport itself. SES Water confirmed that complications from the power outage caused some customers to experience low water pressure or a temporary loss of supply entirely.
By shortly before 13:45, the company reported that its treatment works were operational again, though full service restoration required time to treat the water before returning it to normal flow. The water company identified specific affected postcodes, including Kent areas TN8 and TN11, along with parts of Surrey postcodes RH1, RH6, and RH10. Bottled water deliveries were being organized for vulnerable customers in these regions.
Passengers Report Confusion and Limited Facilities
Gatwick Airport acknowledged the ongoing disruption in a statement confirming there was no water supply in either terminal. Staff were deployed to assist passengers, and some restaurant partners reopened solely to provide additional seating, though food and beverage service remained unavailable.
Passenger Paul Lee told the BBC he had not heard any announcements about the situation and had not seen bottled water being distributed, despite the airport's claims. He noted that restaurants and lounges were shut, though shops remained open. Lee expressed concern for passengers arriving later in the day, as conditions were likely to worsen without communication or resources.
Former MP and ex-CEO of UK Music Michael Dugher, recently appointed as the UK government's first "music champion," took to social media to urge the airport to allow people to use seating in closed restaurants and bars. He highlighted that families were being forced to sit on the floor, describing the lack of seating as a separate issue from the water supply problem itself.
Roger Wood, a passenger from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, initially thought friends were joking when they told him no restaurants or bars were open in the south terminal. Upon arrival, he found establishments including Nando's and Wetherspoon completely shut, with staff stationed at doors turning people away, including those requesting hot food. The only food options available were packaged goods from shops such as Pret and Itsu. Wood also noted that while toilets remained accessible, there was no way to wash hands, and conditions deteriorated over the course of an hour or two.