Bottled water stations open amid supply disruption

The water minister has said she is "in close contact" with water firms in the South East, as supply problems for customers in Kent continue.

The company said it has restored supplies to 15,500 properties by 19:00 BST on Saturday but said about 500 were still without water due to drinking water storage tanks reaching "a critical level".

It blamed high demand during the week-long heatwave and urged customers who still have a water supply to only use it for essential purposes, such as drinking, washing and cooking.

The company said it was working to restore supplies to 165 customers in Cranbrook, 117 in Mereworth, "fewer than 20" in Ulcombe and roughly 200 in Kemsing and Wrotham.

"This is because the drinking water storage tanks which serve these areas have reached a critical level," a spokesperson said.

"We are also aware that some customers in the Wincheap area of Canterbury may have been experiencing no water, which is due to a burst water main. This is currently being repaired.

"In addition, there are approximately 3,600 customers who may be experiencing low pressure or an intermittent supply during the day in the Coxheath, Loose, Headcorn, Ulcombe and Benenden and Wraik Hill areas. This means that water will go on and off throughout the day, with no water or low pressure at peak times, particularly between 16:00 and 19:00.

"We are sincerely sorry to customers for disruption to their water supply and know how frustrating it is, especially in hot weather."

Some villages began experiencing water supply issues on 23 May.

Bottled water stations, which will be open from 09:00 to 21:00 BST, are at:

• Challock Village Hall, Blind Lane, Challock, Ashford, TN25 4AU
• Kingsnorth Church of England Primary School , Church Hill, Kingsnorth, TN23 3EF
• Sainsbury's Altira Business Park, 6 The Boulevard, Herne Bay, CT6 6GZ
• Sainsbury's Reeves Way, Chestfield, Whitstable, CT5 3QS
• Kavanagh Cinema, William Street, Herne Bay CT6 5NX
• Morrisons, Sutton Road, Maidstone ME15 9NN

South East Water said it had given out one million litres of bottled water and tankered more than 2,025,700 litres of water into the network so far.

South East Water's incident manager Steve Benton said: "We are conscious that today is forecast to be another hot day and demand is therefore likely to remain high.

"Although our network is recovering, levels of drinking water in our storage tanks are still low and we are asking customers to use water for essential purposes only - drinking, cooking, and hygiene."

He said the company was supporting the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Herne Bay and had a dedicated tanker for local farmers with livestock.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said: "Families and businesses should not have to put up with widespread and extended disruptions to their water supply, particularly during periods of very hot weather.

"I and my officials are in close contact with water companies, local authorities and other partners in the south-east of England to discuss support for affected customers.

"These events underline why our reforms to the water sector are so crucial and why water companies must plan and prepare for increasing periods of very hot weather."

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