Water supply issue affects Gatwick Airport
A major water supply issue left Gatwick Airport's terminals without running water following an infrastructure failure at SES Water, causing disruption for travelers.
Gatwick Airport has faced major operational disruption after a water supply issue left both terminals entirely without running water. SES Water confirmed that the infrastructure failure stemmed from complications triggered by an earlier power outage at its Bough Beech Water Treatment Works. The utility provider noted that the regional hub in West Sussex, alongside parts of Kent, Surrey, and south London, experienced the resulting supply losses.
According to SES Water, the treatment facility was brought back up and running by mid-afternoon, requiring additional treatment time before services could return to normal. Alongside the airport, the water company noted that postal areas including TN8, TN11, RH1, RH6, and RH10 experienced low pressure or complete supply losses. Vulnerable customers in those affected regions were prioritized for bottled water deliveries.
Media additions
Inside the terminals, the unfolding situation prompted intense frustration among travelers and high-profile figures alike. Broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer criticised the airport's initial communication via social media:
"That means no coffees, no water fountains, no flushing toilets and no hand washing."
Julia Hartley-Brewer, Broadcaster, via The Argus
Further criticism was leveled by former MP and ex-CEO of UK Music Michael Dugher, who highlighted families sitting on terminal floors after venues locked their doors. Passengers reported that popular dining establishments such as Wetherspoon and Nando's completely turned away customers. Other venues, like Pret and Itsu, restricted operations exclusively to packaged food and cold items. While some restaurant partners eventually opened their seating areas to give travelers a place to rest, toilets remained operational only for waste without flushing or washing capabilities.
Airlines scrambled to adjust operations in response to the infrastructure failure. Easyjet advised passengers not to arrive early, altering bag-drop desks to open two hours prior to departure rather than the standard three hours. Bbc reporter Adam Dowling, traveling from Valencia, noted that flight arrivals experienced rolling delays as air traffic controllers adjusted landing slots to minimize terminal congestion.
Conflicting accounts emerged regarding the distribution of emergency supplies on the ground. While the airport maintained that bottled water was being actively made available to staff and passengers through contingency measures, individual travelers disputed the immediate visibility of these efforts. Passenger Paul Lee told the BBC that no initial public announcements had been heard and bottled water distribution was not immediately apparent to those stranded in the terminals.
The incident echoes past infrastructure vulnerabilities at the aviation hub, recalling a July 2022 incident where a burst water main similarly caused low pressure, affected local houses, and forced toilet facility closures.
Impact and Passenger Advice
- Terminals Affected: Both terminals are enduring complete running water losses.
- Bag Drop Changes: Carriers like Easyjet have restricted desk openings to two hours before departure.
- Food & Beverage: Fresh food preparation is halted; only pre-packaged options remain available where shops are open.
- Sanitation: Toilets remain open but lack running water for flushing or hand washing.
Airport operators and SES Water continue coordinated efforts to restore full utility operations as the treated water system cycles back online. Passengers scheduled to fly out of the West Sussex hub are strongly encouraged to check airline notifications and avoid arriving ahead of the revised bag-drop windows.
