Gatwick Airport experienced a significant disruption on Monday after a power outage at a nearby water treatment facility led to a loss of running water across both its North and South terminals. The incident affected essential services including lavatories, handwashing stations, drinking fountains, and food and beverage outlets, causing inconvenience and frustration among passengers.
The disruption stemmed from a power failure at the Bough Beech Water Treatment Works operated by SES Water, which supplies more than 750,000 customers in east Surrey, parts of West Sussex, Kent, and south London. SES Water confirmed that the fault resulted in low water pressure or a temporary loss of supply for some customers, including Gatwick Airport.
Despite the disruption, flights continued to operate normally. However, restaurants and cafés at the airport were forced to close or significantly limit their services due to the lack of water needed to prepare food and drinks. Gatwick officials stated on social media that bottled water was being distributed to travelers and staff, though passengers on site challenged this claim, reporting inadequate communication and limited availability of water.
The airport acknowledged the issue and said it was “currently under investigation,” with contingency measures implemented to prioritize passenger welfare. SES Water reported that supplies were gradually being restored as of Monday evening but cautioned that full recovery would take time given the complexity of the incident. No definitive timeline was provided for the resumption of normal airport services such as lavatories and restaurants.
Passenger reactions on social media highlighted considerable dissatisfaction with the airport’s handling of the situation. Some criticized the lack of clear announcements and expressed confusion over the location and availability of functioning toilets. Others lamented that closed restaurants remained off-limits, leaving families and other travelers to sit on the floor in crowded areas. Former Labour shadow defence secretary Michael Dugher called for passengers to be allowed to use seating in closed outlets, emphasizing the difficulties faced by travelers during the outage.
Before the airport’s official statement, broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer drew attention to the crisis, noting the absence of running water and the absence of public warnings from Gatwick.
SES Water has reported a marked increase—by approximately 70 percent since 2020—in power cuts affecting Bough Beech treatment works, raising concerns about the reliability of drinking water production in the region. The utility company stated that its engineers were working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible but did not provide a precise estimate for restoring full service. Meanwhile, Gatwick officials continued to coordinate with SES Water to manage the ongoing impact on passengers and airport operations.