Thousands of passengers arriving at Gatwick Airport on 26 July 2026 were greeted not by the usual hum of departure lounges but by closed restaurants, locked toilets, and a desperate search for bottled water. A major water outage had left the UK's second-busiest airport without running water in both terminals, turning a routine travel day into a scene of frustration and confusion.
A water supply issue, caused by a power outage at SES Water's Bough Beech Water Treatment Works, cut off running water to the entire airport. SES Water, which supplies parts of Kent, Surrey, West Sussex and south London, reported that some customers were experiencing low water pressure or a temporary loss of supply. Gatwick Airport said the problem was affecting water supply in both terminals and was under investigation. Bottled water was made available to passengers and staff, and contingency measures were put in place.
“A major water outage at Gatwick Airport left thousands of passengers without toilets or drinking water. Here's how such infrastructure failures happen and what they mean for UK travellers.”
Water supply failures at major transport hubs are rare but not unheard of. Airports rely on municipal water systems for everything from flushing toilets and handwashing to running cafes, bars and restaurants. When a local utility suffers an outage – in this case, due to a power failure at a treatment works – the airport can quickly become unusable. Unlike a power cut, where backup generators can keep lights on, there is no easy backup for a piped water supply. Airports may have emergency storage tanks, but they are limited and cannot sustain normal operations for long.
For UK travellers, this incident highlights how vulnerable critical infrastructure can be. Gatwick handles tens of millions of passengers each year, and many travellers pass through on their way to holidays or business trips. A water outage not only causes immediate discomfort – no toilet access, no drinking fountains, no hot drinks – but can also lead to flight delays. At Gatwick, landing slots were rearranged to reduce the number of incoming flights, and some departures were delayed. Passengers reported that restaurants, bars and lounges were closed, and some shops remained open but without water. The lack of communication from the airport was a major complaint, with many saying they only found out about the shortage from staff or social media.
Q: Why did Gatwick lose its water supply? The water outage was caused by a power outage at SES Water's Bough Beech Water Treatment Works. This led to complications that resulted in low water pressure or a complete loss of supply for customers in the Horley area, including Gatwick Airport.
Q: Which flights were affected by the water outage? Flight disruptions occurred because landing slots were moved around to reduce the number of arrivals while the airport dealt with the emergency. Some departing flights were delayed. Passengers were advised to check with their airlines for specific flight status.
Q: What should I do if I'm at an airport that loses water supply? First, listen for announcements or check the airport's social media channels for updates. If you have a medical condition or need water for medication, inform airport staff immediately. Avoid using closed facilities; follow directions to any temporary toilets or water distribution points. If your flight is delayed, contact your airline for rebooking options.
Gatwick's water supply was still being restored as of the afternoon of 26 July. SES Water said it was working to overcome complications and return the treatment works to supply as quickly as possible. The airport apologised for the disruption but gave no timeline for when full service would resume. For passengers travelling in the coming days, the incident serves as a reminder that even the most modern airports are not immune to basic infrastructure failures – and that it pays to always carry a bottle of water.