Huge queues are building around a bottled water station this evening, despite supplies starting to return in some areas.
Homes in parts of the county were left without water over the bank holiday weekend, with residents reporting no running water or low pressure on Saturday (May 23).
There are huge queues to get onto Altira Park in Broomfield, near Herne Bay, where a bottled water station has been set up at Sainbury’s
At the height of the issues, South East Water (SEW) said around 800 households were affected, but yesterday morning (May 25), a spokesman said 250 properties remain impacted.
Customers in Charing, Challock, Molash and surrounding areas near Ashford, along with Ulcombe Hill in Ulcombe near Maidstone, should have their water returned this morning (May 26).
However, SEW said some may still be experiencing low pressure and warned those on higher ground or at the far end of the networks that there may still be some interruptions, particularly during peak times.
This evening, many properties across Kent are still seeing disruption to their supplies, and it is also causing traffic mayhem at one bottled water station.
In an update published around 7pm, SEW said it was “working hard” to restore water pressure in Herne Bay, and people could pick up water at Sainsbury’s in Altira Business Park.
A water station has been set up at Altira Park in Broomfield
However, residents reported sitting in “huge queues” stretching from the retail park and onto the A299 Thanet Way.
A driver said anyone heading towards the supermarket, David Lloyd or Snap Fitness would get caught in the lengthy delays this evening.
Another bottle station is open at Challock Village Hall near Ashford.
Elsewhere, customers in Stockett Lane, Coxheath, are also still experiencing no water or low pressure.
SEW said it is looking into the cause of the problems as a “priority” and is “working as quickly as possible” to get supplies back up and running.
SEW says it is working hard to get supplies back up and running
The firm has blamed the problems on exceptionally high demand caused by the hot weather.
South East Water said it had increased output at water treatment works across the region and had pumped additional water into the network and support reservoirs in preparation.
The disruption began over the bank holiday weekend when Saturday was named the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching a scorching 30.5C in Frittenden.
South East Water previously warned that increased demand for drinking water, showers, paddling pools and garden hoses had placed significant strain on the network.
Residents in Herne Bay are still facing water issues
Meanwhile, people living in Foster Street, Maidstone, are also seeing issues, but due to a burst water main.
At 6pm SEW said: “As soon as the repairs have been completed, your water will return to normal. Please be rest assured we are doing everything we can to get you back up and running as soon as possible.”
Another main has also burst in Amage Road, Wye, which has also forced a road closure to allow for repairs. It is not known how long this will take.