The Drinking Water Inspectorate has launched an investigation into loss of supply incidents affecting Kent and Sussex.

The DWI said it is is aware of several loss of water supply incidents affecting customers in parts of Kent and Sussex, which have been reported by South East Water. The DWI have also highlighted matters relating to leadership and governance of South East Water which were raised in Parliament through an urgent question on 12 January 2026 at 16:15 hrs.

The Inspectorate is the drinking water quality regulator for England and Wales and enforces The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 and the Security and Emergency Measures Direction 2022.

The regulator has now commenced an investigation into the incidents, which will include consideration of the circumstances leading up to the loss of supply, the actions taken by the company during the event, and its communications with consumers.

The DWI said it will take appropriate enforcement action, within its statutory powers, where required, to protect public health and to plan and prepare for loss of supply incidents.

This latest investigation follows on the back of a full water quality investigation announced by the DWI on 4 December into a loss of supply incident at South East Water when it became aware of an event affecting water supplies in the Pembury and Tunbridge Wells area and that the water company had served a boil water notice to consumers.