Gatwick Airport experienced a significant water supply failure on Tuesday, leaving both terminals without running water and forcing the closure of all toilet facilities. The outage, which affected passengers and staff alike, created widespread inconvenience at one of the United Kingdom's busiest airports.
SES Water, the utility company responsible for the region, confirmed that there had been interruptions to the water supply in parts of Kent and Sussex, including the area around Gatwick. The company said it was working to identify the cause of the problem and restore service as quickly as possible, but did not provide an estimated time for resolution.
The lack of running water meant that all toilets in the North and South terminals were shut, leaving passengers with no option but to use limited alternatives or wait for the situation to be resolved. Airport staff were deployed to assist travellers and manage the disruption, while bottled water was reportedly made available in some areas. The airport urged passengers to remain patient and check with their airlines for any updates on flight schedules.
Water supply failures at major transport hubs can have serious economic and operational consequences. Gatwick is the second largest airport in the United Kingdom, handling over 40 million passengers per year. Even a short-term disruption to essential services such as toilets and drinking water can cause delays, reduce passenger satisfaction, and increase costs for airlines and airport operators. The incident also highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to utility failures, a concern that has been growing across the country as water networks age and weather patterns become more unpredictable.
Water companies in the UK have faced increasing scrutiny in recent years over supply reliability, particularly after a series of outages during heatwaves and storms. SES Water, which serves parts of Surrey, West Sussex, and Kent, has experienced similar incidents in the past, often caused by burst mains or treatment works problems. The company has invested in upgrading its network, but interruptions remain a risk for businesses and residents alike.
Passengers travelling through Gatwick on Tuesday described scenes of confusion and frustration, with long queues forming at the few facilities that remained open. Many took to social media to complain about the lack of information and the unsanitary conditions. The airport apologised for the inconvenience and said it was working closely with SES Water to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
The incident also raises questions about contingency planning at major transport hubs. While airports typically have backup systems for power and communications, water supply is often less resilient. Gatwick did not immediately comment on whether portable toilets or other temporary measures were being deployed, but the lack of running water forced a significant reduction in normal operations. Retail outlets and catering facilities were also affected, as they rely on water for food preparation and hygiene.
As of Tuesday afternoon, SES Water had not given a specific timeline for the restoration of supply, but engineers were on site working to fix the problem. The company advised affected customers to boil tap water before use if it did return, as a precautionary measure. Gatwick Airport said it would continue to update passengers as more information became available, and urged travellers to allow extra time for their journeys.
