East Grinstead Grapples with Major Water Crisis Following Storm Goretti

Water Supply Emergency Hits East Grinstead

East Grinstead, a historic market town in West Sussex, has become the epicentre of a major water crisis that has left thousands of residents without adequate water supply. Around 16,500 households in East Grinstead have had no or low-pressure mains water since Saturday morning, following the impact of Storm Goretti and subsequent freezing conditions.

Major Incident Declaration

On January 12, 2026, the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum declared a “major incident” as approximately 30,000 properties across Kent and Sussex were left without water or with low pressure. The declaration underscores the severity of the situation affecting not only East Grinstead but also neighbouring communities across the South East region.

Impact on Daily Life and Services

The water shortage has caused significant disruption to daily life in East Grinstead. The MP called the situation ‘bedlam’ in the town, as residents queued for hours at bottled water distribution points. The Queen Victoria Hospital shifted some appointments to virtual formats due to the lack of supply, whilst the crisis has forced the closure of numerous schools and public libraries.

South East Water set up a water collection point in the Sainsbury’s car park next to East Grinstead station, with additional stations at East Grinstead Sports Club. The situation was compounded by traffic congestion caused by residents attempting to reach water distribution points.

Causes and Response

South East Water said the bad weather had affected its ability to treat the raw water at the normal rate at its main Sussex water treatment works following Storm Goretti. A combination of burst mains, due to freeze/thaw conditions, and reservoir supply issues, had caused the problems.

Water minister Emma Hardy updated the commons on the South East Water situation, describing it as “entirely unacceptable”. Supplies to East Grinstead may not stabilise until January 13, with South East Water working around the clock to restore normal service.

Looking Ahead

This crisis has raised serious questions about infrastructure resilience and water company preparedness for extreme weather events. Local MP Mims Davies has called for accountability, stating that authorities will investigate what happened to prevent future occurrences. For East Grinstead residents, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the essential nature of reliable water supply and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to severe weather conditions.