Gatwick Airport experienced major disruption on Sunday morning after a water supply outage left both of its terminals completely without running water. The issue, which forced the closure of airport bars and restaurants, led to long queues for toilets and left many passengers frustrated.
The outage was triggered by a power failure at the Bough Beech treatment works, operated by SES Water. The utility company, which also serves parts of Surrey, Kent, and south London, explained that complications from the power failure resulted in low water pressure or a temporary loss of supply for its customers. A spokesperson for the company confirmed earlier in the day that Gatwick Airport was among those affected.
In an update released just before 13:45 BST, SES Water confirmed that the Bough Beech facility was back online. However, a spokesperson noted that the water still required treatment before normal services could be fully restored. "Our Bough Beech water treatment works are back up and running," the company stated. "We now need to treat the water before returning services to normal as quickly as we possibly can."
Gatwick Airport apologized for the ongoing disruption and stated that it was working closely with the water provider to resolve the issue. To assist passengers, the airport deployed staff, distributed bottled water, and arranged for some restaurant partners to open their doors solely to provide extra seating. In an official statement, the airport confirmed: "There is currently no water supply in either terminal. Our staff are on hand to support passengers and provide assistance where needed, some restaurant partners have opened to provide additional seating."
Despite these efforts, passengers reported widespread confusion. Paul Lee, who was preparing to depart, mentioned that he had not heard any official announcements or seen bottled water being handed out. "For people who need to go to the toilet, this isn't good, and still no announcement or official information – and the water they mentioned isn't being distributed," Lee said. He observed that while shops remained open, lounges and restaurants were shut, warning that the situation would worsen for passengers arriving later.
The closure of dining venues also created a shortage of seating. Michael Dugher, a former MP and the former CEO of UK Music, criticized the airport on social media, urging management to let passengers use the chairs in closed establishments. Dugher pointed out that families were being forced to sit on the floor, stating, "No water is one thing but depriving people of somewhere to sit is another… families are having to sit on the floor."
