Schools are closed and thousands of residents are still without supplies as the Kent water outage continues.
Properties in Harbledown, Canterbury, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Headcorn, Hollingbourne, Kingswood, Sutton Valence, Sevenoaks and Ulcombe have been affected by the crisis.
In an update this morning, South East Water confirmed at least Tunbridge Wells, Boughton-Under-Blean, Marden and Whitstable are without supplies.
The utility company says water should return to Tunbridge Wells, but it will be intermittent throughout the day after reservoir levels increased overnight.
A spokesperson said: “The situation is ever-changing and we will continue to update as we know more.”
People in Faversham are also experiencing problems caused by a burst main on the South East Water network, which is “proving to be quite complex due to a tree blocking access to the repair site, requiring machinery to remove”.
Meanwhile, the remaining areas confirmed to have no or little supply today are due to issues at its site, which means it is unable to pump water.
KentOnline has asked the utility company exactly how many properties across Kent remain affected.
Several schools had to close again today (January 13), including St Peters CofE Primary School, Claremont Primary School and Skinners’ Academy in Tunbridge Wells, as well as Ulcombe CofE Primary School.
Meanwhile, Speldhurst CofE Primary School in Tunbridge Wells, Blean Primary School in Canterbury and Harrietsham CofE Primary School have reopened.
To check for closures, people are encouraged to visit their school’s website or use this Kent County Council link.
Most residents in Hollingborne, Headcorn, Ulcombe, Kingswood, Sutton Valence, should have their water back.
The spokesperson added: “We are truly sorry for the issues having no water may have caused you.
“If your water looks brown in colour, please don’t worry as it is not harmful. This happens when small particles of iron within the mains are disturbed.
“Simply run from your cold kitchen tap until the water is clear.
“Your water may also appear cloudy, or white.
“If you fill a glass of water and it clears from the bottom upwards then this means your water is just a little more aerated than usual.”
The full list of postal areas facing water issues according to South East Water’s website includes Loose, Hollingborne, Headcorn, Ulcombe, Kingswood, Sutton Valence, Radfall Road in Whitstable, Marden in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Brickfield Lane in Boughton-Under-Blean, Amsbury Road in Coxheath, Yopps Green in Sevenoaks, Blean and Harbledown.
More as we have it.
