After a burst water main in Horley led to a temporary interruption of supply, passengers at Gatwick Airport were left facing major disruption across parts of the terminals.
Burst Main in Horley Interrupts Gatwick’s Water Service
The disruption occurred when SES Water confirmed a burst pipeline in a field near Horley, immediately affecting water access in Gatwick Airport’s North and South Terminals. SES Water launched an investigation and began repairs to restore service and resume typical water pressure, in collaboration with airport officials who also monitored developments.
Flights were able to operate as planned, and the airport assured the public that departures and arrivals were unaffected throughout the water shortage.
Travelers Face Closed Restrooms and Limited Food Services
Numerous travelers were inconvenienced by the closure of restrooms in the North Terminal, as basic hygiene facilities became unusable. Food vendors in this terminal reduced service, offering seating but restricting menu options. In contrast, South Terminal restroom facilities remained largely in operation.
Passengers voiced their frustrations during this period. Among them, Natasha Nzekwe, on her way to Amsterdam, observed that travelers were generally patient but pointed out, “There’s no water at all, you can’t even wash your hands in the toilets.” She added, “not being able to properly wash your hands is frustrating,” especially with limited information provided.
Naduni Abeywickrama, flying from London to Aberdeen, called it “extremely frustrating,” recalling a similar incident in July when a power failure at a treatment plant led to both terminals losing water for several hours. That earlier episode, detailed in reports from July, resulted in long lines for toilets as well as closed restaurants and bars within the airport.
Service Restored as Monitoring Continues at Gatwick
Following repairs and adjustments to the system, SES Water confirmed that water supply was “restored to Gatwick Airport and the surrounding areas.” Anthony Rochester, SES Water’s head of networks, said, “We’re continuing to work closely with the airport as we understand water isn’t yet flowing throughout their buildings.”
A Gatwick Airport spokesperson reported that restroom facilities “have remained available throughout” the terminals and said that “food and beverage outlets are now reopening and serving hot food.” The spokesperson also thanked travelers for their understanding and stated that the airport would provide further updates as the restoration continued. Joint efforts between SES Water and airport teams were ongoing to ensure water pressure normalized in all sections of the facility.
Gatwick’s Ongoing Struggles With Water Supply Issues
This episode marks the second disruption this year affecting the airport’s water supply. In July, both terminals faced an outage due to a power loss at a nearby treatment facility, causing a shutdown of key services and long queues at remaining restrooms.
While the latest burst main was dealt with on the same day it happened, the situation has raised ongoing concerns over vital infrastructure at transport centers like Gatwick. These events highlight the importance of continued cooperation between utility suppliers and airport management to reduce future risks of similar disruptions.
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