Ofwat launches investigation into South East Water
The water regulator, Ofwat, has launched an investigation into South East Water after thousands of people across Kent and Sussex were left without water for days. The probe will check if the company broke its licence by failing to support customers or provide a decent level of service. If found guilty, the company could be fined up to 10% of its annual turnover.
The situation has caused chaos for families and businesses, with many people unable to wash or cook during the recent cold weather. Schools have been forced to close, and some restaurant owners reported losing £1,000 a day while their taps were dry. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the ongoing failures as completely intolerable and ordered the regulator to take action.
South East Water blamed the problems on Storm Goretti and a power cut at one of its pumping stations. While the company says it has been working 24 hours a day to fix the pipes, local residents and headteachers have complained about a lack of clear information. Many feel frustrated because, unlike with gas or electricity, they cannot choose to switch to a different water supplier when things go wrong.
The company’s boss, David Hinton, has faced calls to resign from local MPs who are angry about his £400,000 salary while the service continues to fail. Although the company says most homes should have their water back by Friday morning, bottled water stations remain open in places like Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, and East Grinstead. South East Water has promised to cooperate fully with the investigation.
