Gatwick Airport left without running water after major outage
Gatwick Airport's terminals lost running water on Sunday morning following a power failure at a local water treatment works, causing widespread disruption.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Gatwick Airport lost running water across both terminals on Sunday morning.
- The outage was caused by a power failure at SES Water's Bough Beech treatment works.
- Restaurants and bars closed, forcing passengers to face long toilet queues and no seating.
- Easyjet advised passengers not to arrive early, opening bag drop desks two hours before flights.
Passengers at Gatwick Airport have encountered long queues for restrooms and closed dining establishments following a significant water supply failure that disrupted operations on Sunday morning.
Both terminals at the UK's second-busiest airport lost running water after a power failure occurred at a treatment facility serving the region. Travelers reported feelings of confusion and frustration as all bars and restaurants shut down, leaving some without anywhere to sit while long lines built up outside the washrooms.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Gatwick stated that it was actively monitoring the situation and distributing bottled water while working alongside the water company to restore normal services. Meanwhile, SES Water, which supplies the airport as well as parts of Kent, Surrey, and south London, confirmed that the power disruption at the Bough Beech treatment works had been resolved, though water still required treatment before supplies could resume.
Infrastructure vulnerabilities at major transport hubs like Gatwick can escalate quickly when external utilities fail. While power outages at regional treatment plants can sometimes be fixed swiftly, regulatory and safety standards dictate strict water treatment and testing protocols before municipal or commercial distribution can safely resume, creating unavoidable delays for dependent businesses.
The disruption drew criticism from notable figures, including former MP and ex-CEO of UK Music Michael Dugher, who took to social media to urge airport management to let stranded travelers use the seating areas inside closed venues rather than forcing families to sit on the floor.
"No water is one thing but depriving people of somewhere to sit is another... families are having to sit on the floor."
Michael Dugher
Roger Wood, a passenger traveling through the south terminal, described staff turning people away at venue doors, noting that only packaged food shops like Pret and Itsu remained accessible. He added that while toilets remained open, handwashing was impossible due to the lack of running water.
In response to the logistical challenges, airlines implemented operational adjustments. EasyJet issued a statement advising passengers not to arrive ahead of schedule, noting that bag drop desks would temporarily open two hours prior to departure instead of the usual three hours to manage terminal capacity. A similar water supply disruption previously affected Gatwick Airport and the surrounding community in July 2022 due to a burst water main.
Source: BBC Business
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