Bottled water is being delivered to some homes in Thanet towns as a precaution following a power outage at Southern Water supply works on January 10. The outage affected key Water Supply Works (WSW), including Selling WSW and Wingham WSW, which produce water for the Fleete Reservoir in Manston. With Kent already experiencing high water demand, the power outage, combined with Storm Goretti and the freeze/thaw weather, has impacted Southern Water reservoir levels across the region.
Southern Water reassures customers that there is currently no loss of supply, and taps are flowing as normal. However, as a precautionary measure, they are delivering bottled water to customers on the Priority Services Register who are supplied by the Fleete Reservoir. Deliveries are taking place across 24 towns, including Ramsgate, Margate, Broadstairs, Birchington, and Westgate-on-Sea.
The company is working to maintain service by moving water around their network and deploying tankers to keep supply stable. They are also providing updates on their website (https://www.southernwater.co.uk/latest-news/water-supply-in-kent/) and social media as the situation evolves. Customers who need extra support can join the Priority Services Register.
This outage follows another power cut on January 8 at the Weatherlees treatment plant, leading to sewer outfall releases affecting beaches across Thanet. The plant shutdown caused Margate Pumping Station to stop transferring wastewater to prevent Weatherlees from flooding. The Weatherlees site is now operational, but a new part is needed to ensure emergency generators kick in automatically. Spare parts are being delivered to resolve this issue.
