Gatwick Airport experienced significant disruption on Friday morning due to a severe water outage, leaving passengers unable to access essential services like flushing toilets, washing hands, and refilling water bottles. The incident also led to the closure of restaurants and bars within the airport's North and South Terminals, with kiosks unable to serve coffee.
Airport staff were observed distributing bottled water to passengers to ensure hydration. Hot food services were halted, with only pre-made meals available. Flights operating from the UK's second-busiest airport, however, were not directly impacted by the water supply issue.
A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport stated that the water problem originated in the Horley area and was under investigation. "Bottled water is being made available to passengers and staff across the airport and other contingency measures are being put in place to ensure the welfare of our passengers," the spokesperson said, adding that further updates would be provided.
SES Water, the utility serving the airport, confirmed an issue at its Bough Beech Water Treatment Works, which caused low water pressure or a complete loss of supply for some customers. The company apologized for the inconvenience and stated that efforts were underway to restore normal service.
Residents in the nearby town of Horley also reported disruptions to their water supply. SES Water indicated that its most vulnerable customers were being supplied with bottled water.
TalkTV presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer, who was at the airport, shared on X that there was no running water across the entire airport, affecting amenities such as coffee, water fountains, and toilets. She noted a lack of immediate public announcement from Gatwick Airport regarding the situation.