South East Water Under Scrutiny: CEO Faces Parliamentary Questions Over Major Supply Failure

6 January 2026 Utilities and Accountability

South East Water in the Spotlight

South East Water’s chief executive, David Hinton, is facing questions from the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee (Efra) over the Tunbridge Wells water outage before Christmas. This parliamentary inquiry represents a critical moment for the utility company, which supplies water to 2.3 million people across southeastern England.

The Tunbridge Wells Crisis

Tens of thousands of residents and businesses in Tunbridge Wells were left without drinking water for 14 days due to failures at the Pembury Water Treatment Works. The supply issues left 24,000 people in the town and surrounding area experiencing low water pressure and eventually no water at all, prompting many schools and businesses to shut. The Drinking Water Inspectorate warned South East Water of a significant risk of failure at the Pembury treatment centre in 2024, raising serious questions about the company’s preparedness.

Financial Performance Amid Challenges

Despite these operational difficulties, South East Water Limited reported a significant increase in profit before tax to £18.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, up from £2.6 million in the same period last year. Revenue rose to £182.8 million, a 22.4% increase from £149.3 million in the previous year, primarily driven by tariff increases. However, the company faced ‘the driest spring in this country since 1893, the hottest summer on record and unparalleled demand for tap water’.

Looking Ahead: Accountability and Infrastructure Investment

South East Water is facing investigations by Ofwat and the Drinking Water Inspectorate into supply disruption. The company maintains it needs substantial infrastructure investment to improve resilience. South East Water has put in business plans with £300 million of extra resilience and has been fighting with the regulatory system to get that funded. As climate challenges intensify and the region remains one of the most water-stressed areas in England, the outcome of these investigations and the company’s response will be critical for ensuring reliable water supply for millions of customers in the future.