Gatwick Airport is grappling with a major water outage that has left both terminals without running water and functional toilets, causing significant disruption for thousands of travellers. The airport has confirmed that the problem is under urgent investigation, with bottled water being handed out to passengers in the meantime.
The water shortage, which was reported earlier today, has affected all public facilities including toilets, drinking fountains, and washbasins. Passengers have been advised to use hand sanitiser and limit water usage where possible. Airport staff are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, but no timeline has been given for when normal services will resume.
Gatwick, the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom, handles over 40 million passengers annually. Such a widespread water failure is unusual and has caused considerable inconvenience, particularly for those with long layovers or early morning flights. Retail outlets and catering services within the terminals have also been impacted, with many unable to operate normally without running water.
The airport authority has apologised to passengers and urged them to be patient. In a statement, a spokesperson said: «We are aware of a water supply issue affecting both the North and South terminals. Engineers are on site investigating the cause and working to restore services as soon as possible. We recommend passengers allow extra time and use bottled water provided at key locations.»
Local water utility companies have been contacted to assist with the situation, though it remains unclear whether the problem originates from the airport's internal plumbing or the mains supply. The airport has not reported any flight cancellations directly related to the outage, but passengers have been warned of possible delays as staff focus on the infrastructure issue.
Social media users at the airport described scenes of long queues for the few available portable toilets and limited access to drinking water. Some travellers reported that handwashing stations were out of order, raising hygiene concerns in a busy travel environment. The airport has increased cleaning of alternative facilities and provided additional sanitiser dispensers.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of critical transport infrastructure to utility failures. Economically, a prolonged outage could affect airport retail revenue and airline schedules. Gatwick contributes significantly to the local and national economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs. The airport has faced other operational challenges in recent years, including drone disruptions and staffing shortages, but a total water failure is rare.
Passengers due to travel via Gatwick today are advised to check with their airline for the latest updates and to bring their own water and hand sanitiser. The airport expects to provide a further update once the investigation into the water outage produces clearer results.
