Both terminals at Gatwick Airport were left without running water on Sunday, with toilets out of order, drinking fountains dry, and restaurants forced to close — sparking fury among passengers who accused the airport of failing to communicate the chaos.
The disruption, caused by a power outage at SES Water's Bough Beech Water Treatment Works in the Horley area, left travellers unable to flush toilets, wash hands, or refill water bottles. Gatwick said bottled water was being made available to passengers and staff, but several reported they had not seen any.
“Gatwick Airport left without running water, toilets unusable, as SES Water investigates power outage.”
"I found out from a restaurant employee," said Charlotte Anstey, who was flying to Spain. "There was no announcement about the fact there is no running water after security. The worst part is the lack of access to toilet facilities. There are guards blocking off access to toilets."
Passenger Paul Lee told the BBC he had heard no announcements and seen no bottled water being distributed. "For people who need to go to the toilet, this isn't good," he said. "Restaurants and lounges are shut but shops are open."
Former MP Michael Dugher, the UK government's newly appointed "music champion", urged the airport to "at least allow people to use the chairs in all the closed restaurants and bars". He added: "Families are having to sit on the floor."
Roger Wood, from Tunbridge Wells, arrived to find "no Nando's, no Wetherspoon, all of those places were completely shut". BBC reporter Adam Dowling, flying from Valencia, said his flight had been delayed because landing slots were being moved "to reduce the number of flights" coming into Gatwick.
SES Water, which covers parts of Kent, Surrey, south London and the airport, said a power outage at its treatment works had caused "low water pressure or a temporary loss of supply". A spokesperson added: "We are working to overcome those complications and return the treatment works to supply as quickly as we can."
Gatwick apologised on X, saying the issue was under investigation. But many passengers said the statement, posted just before 11am, came too late. TalkTV presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer had already posted publicly about the outage, noting that Gatwick "hasn't bothered to make a public announcement".
With no clear timeline for when running water would be restored, thousands of travellers faced a summer getaway turned sour — and a question that hung unanswered: why did no one tell them before they passed security?