The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has today announced that it is investigating the current South East Water loss of supply incident.

The DWI is aware of an event affecting water supplies in the Pembury and Tunbridge Wells area, and is aware that South East Water (the company) has served a boil water notice to consumers.

The Inspectorate has now commenced a full water quality investigation, which will include the company’s actions in the lead up to, during and after the event. This investigation will also include a review of the company’s communications with consumers to protect public health.

The Inspectorate is in the process of gathering information which will support the event assessment. This assessment will include a complete evaluation of the contributing risks. As this is a live investigation the Inspectorate is unable to provide further details, as it has powers to bring forward enforcement action or legal proceedings should there be sufficient evidence to do so.

.The Inspectorate investigates all drinking water quality events in England and Wales and will take enforcement action should there be sufficient evidence that an offence was committed, where the company does not have a defence that it took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence, and when such a prosecution is regarded as being in the public interest.