Water supply restored to Gatwick airport after hours without working toilets | Gatwick airport

Water has been restored to much of Gatwick airport after passengers spent hours without access to working toilets and bars and restaurants were closed.

Most toilets reopened in both terminals on Sunday evening; The remaining facilities, including bars and restaurants, are expected to return to normal by the first of Monday’s flights.

Although flights were not affected, toilets in both terminals were out of use, cafes, restaurants and bars were closed, and taps were either not flowing at all or flowing at low pressure since Sunday morning.

Announcing the restoration of water supplied by SES Water, Gatwick Airport said: “Following an issue at Bough Beech water treatment works which affected the local area today, we are pleased to announce the return of water supply to the majority of the London Gatwick campus.

“Most toilet facilities are now open and we expect all toilets, as well as food and drink venues, to be open on the first flights tomorrow. Since becoming aware of the issue, we have been working closely with @SESWater and our airport partners to help minimize the impact and ensure all flights today depart as planned.”

Earlier on Sunday, passengers posted online that they were unable to get hot drinks, wash their hands or refill their water bottles at the airport in Sussex.

Water suppliers said the problem was also affecting the wider Sussex and Kent area.

SES Water said there were disruptions to water supplies in the TN11, RH1, RH6 and RH10 postcode areas.

The company said that at 14:00 Bough Beech water treatment works started working again, but the water needed to be treated before services could return to normal.

One user on Facebook shared: “I’m currently out of breath and crossing my legs to get a drink. This is ridiculous! Gatwick airport has closed all restaurants and most of the toilets due to water shortages. Not a great start to a holiday.”

Former MP and recently appointed government “music champion” Michael Dugher wrote on social media: “At least allow people to use chairs in all indoor restaurants and bars. Not having water is one thing, depriving people of a place to sit is another… Families are being forced to sit on the floor.”

Roger Wood, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, arrived at Gatwick’s southern terminal at around 11am on Sunday for his flight to New York. He told reporters: “There was no communication. We arrived at 11 o’clock and it had just started.

“We met friends at the bar but they couldn’t serve us because they couldn’t wash their hands. I’ve never seen Wetherspoons empty. I have no idea when the problem will be fixed. There was no water in the toilets to wash hands either.”