Thousands of residents in Kent experienced disruptions to their water supply over the weekend following a burst water main on Shipbourne Road in Tonbridge. The incident, which occurred early Saturday morning, resulted in water flooding the street and caused low or no water pressure for many households in the affected area.

South East Water (SEW) reported that the initial number of impacted homes, estimated at 7,588, had decreased to 2,564 by Sunday as repair efforts progressed. Additionally, drinking water service was restored to 322 properties situated on higher ground in the nearby village of Bidborough. To support residents while the work continued, SEW established two bottled water distribution points in Tonbridge.

Repair teams faced challenges due to a combination of complex technical issues, including equipment failure overnight and the proximity of high-voltage electrical cables near the damaged section of the pipeline. Rob Hall, incident manager for SEW, expressed regret over the inconvenience caused, emphasizing the company’s commitment to restoring normal supply as quickly and safely as possible. He indicated that full water service for the remaining affected households was expected by Monday morning.

The water supply disruption coincided with ongoing regional hosepipe bans aimed at conserving water resources. While violations of these restrictions may incur fines up to £1,000, water companies have outlined various exemptions. Vulnerable individuals, including those with medical or mobility issues, are generally exempt nationwide. Commercial entities may continue hosepipe use for legitimate business purposes.

Several companies have identified additional specific exemptions. For instance, Thames Water and Essex & Suffolk Water permit hosepipe use for cleaning private boats when required for health and safety reasons or where enclosed spaces are involved. Thames Water also allows washing of windows, external walls, pathways, patios, and other outdoor surfaces under similar conditions. Other standard exemptions include watering to protect animal welfare, which covers pets, livestock, and fish, as well as irrigation of food crops in private gardens or allotments when alternative methods like watering cans are impractical. Newly laid turf or recently sown grass seed also qualify for exemption.

Residents affected by the water main burst and ongoing restrictions have been urged to use water sparingly until services are fully restored.