south east water is a joke of a utility company

One of the worst water companies in England

24,000 people without water for 6 days in Tunbridge Wells

As of December 2025 Dave Hinton, CEO of South East Water is currently missing in action and has not been seen in weeks.


"The latest incident is in a long line of problems for which the company is responsible."

Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin


Meet the board of idiots directors in charge

Who do the board report to? The shareholders of course!

Des Jardin Entities (25%),
NatWest Pension Trustee Limited (25%),
Utilities Trust of Australia (50%)

The obvious solution to the latest incident is to ensure that the board get paid bigger bonuses and the shareholders continue to receive their dividend payments.


What is in the water?

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust have said that people should "use cooled, boiled tap water for bathing babies, children and vulnerable adults."“Parents prepping baby formula for their young children are once again advised to boil the tap water first in order to sterilise it and make it safe.”So it is not safe to wash your children in this water.

In response to the latest disaster, thankfully there were loads of empty statements from people who could have actually done something.

SEW said it was continuing to investigate what caused water quality to drop at the site.

The lack of detail about what has happened is concerning residents of Tunbridge Wells

"Lessons are always learnt in any incident"

says Tanya Sefton, customers services director for SEW. Thanks Tanya, that's helpful!

Ed Davey MP came and handed out some water for the press photos and asked Kier Starmer a question in parliament.

Kier Starmer said "There's really serious consequences and we are bearing down on that as he would expect because it's such a serious issue." which means a lot because absolutely nothing has happened from it.

There is no mention of compensation for businesses on the South East Water website.

John Vinson, head of company engagement at the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: "Whether a person is entitled to a payment and the amount will depend on how long they were left without water.

"Dave Hinton needs to do his job or resign."

Posted on X by Cannock Chase MP, Josh Newbury. Thanks Josh! That's really moved things along.

“I have spoken to Dave Hinton this morning and made clear that the continued disruption to water supplies is unacceptable. The DWI will undertake a full investigation into what caused this incident and why it’s taken so long to restore supply to customers.”

Thanks Emma Hardy! That's done nothing. People still have to boil their water in Tunbridge Wells.


Some people have written letters which were totally useless

1. Alistair Carmichael wrote a letter!

Thanks for the letter, Alistair! It's a really good one!

2. Greg Clark wrote a letter!

He's the former MP to Tunbridge Wells so this one means a lot!

3. Rosie Duffield wrote a letter!

This was in July 2025 regarding the unacceptable water shortages in Whitstable, Seasalter and surrounding areas.She said "my team are here to support you. If you have any ongoing issues with your water supply, please get in touch."Thanks Rosie!

These letters make such a huge difference when sent to a privatised company with no accountability. Keep up the letter writing everyone!

2023 Shareholder payout

£2.25m

paid to shareholders despite £18m losses. In fact they take on debt in order to pay dividends

2024

£200m cash injection

“This investment follows a previous £75 million equity injection made in December 2024, underscoring our shareholders’ continued commitment to supporting the financial resilience of South East Water."

Despite all this, South East Water still have the audacity to appeal to Ofwat to raise their water prices


It has been 0 days since the last disastrous incident

Read the impressive track record from the board of directors running this company

2025 24,000 people without water for 6 days in Tunbridge Wells

Even when water was restored, it was unsafe to drink. "Where is the boss of South East Water?"

2024 Ofwat Risk notice given

“There is or has been a significant risk of supplying water from Pembury water treatment works (and associated assets as applicable) that could constitute a potential danger to human health or could be unwholesome.”

2023 properties in East Sussex spend 3 days without fresh water

In the same week that it paid out £2.3m in dividends to investors.

2022, 20,000 people without water over Christmas

South East Water admitted that it could not guarantee all customers in Kent and East Sussex that water would be restored by the Christmas weekend, after a threefold increase in leaks.Back then Grey Clark called it “unacceptably bad and in some instances chaotic”. Thanks Greg! very helpful!

Don't trust the quality of water? That's hardly surprising. Buy a water purity test kit today.

Check below the quickest way to be sure that your water is drinkable.


Drinking Water Test Kit £9.99

These water testing strips make it easy to identify 16 parameters, including pH, hardness, cyanuric acid, mercury, fluoride, carbonate root, total alkalinity, chromium, lead, copper, total chlorine, free bromine, nitrate, nitrite, and iron.

TDS Meter

Digital Water Quality Tester for RO-RODI System Drinking Water. Total Dissolved Solids, also known as TDS. The TDS meter is a great water quality tester tool for water testing kits for drinking water.

Still Natural Mineral Water

Aqua 5 Litre Still Natural Mineral Water, 5L, Pack of 3.

Water Container, 22L

This large water container is made of high-quality PC material, which is lightweight and high-strength, food grade silicone material provides effective leak prevention.

All proceeds from sales will go to Age UK Tunbridge Wells

Leaving parents scared to bathe their children, businesses with no support other than some strongly worded letters, and above all no support for the town's elderly population is despicable behaviour.


© Screw you South East Water. All rights reserved.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused to the board of SE water

Please check back here at 6pm for a further update