London Gatwick Airport experienced a water supply disruption affecting both terminals on July 26, 2026. The outage forced the closure of restaurants and disrupted passenger services, including toilets and access to hot drinks, while flight operations continued as scheduled.
Cause of Water Supply Disruption
Regional water supplier SES Water reported that the disruption stemmed from a power outage at a nearby water treatment facility serving the Horley area, which includes Gatwick Airport. The outage led to reduced water pressure and temporary supply loss across the affected zone.
Official Responses and Emergency Measures
Gatwick Airport confirmed on X that the water issue was under investigation and that bottled water was distributed
to passengers and staff. Additional contingency measures were implemented to safeguard passenger welfare during the outage. SES Water acknowledged complications caused by the power failure and stated it is collaborating closely with the airport to restore normal service rapidly.
Impact on Flights and Airport Context
Despite disruptions to passenger facilities and services, Gatwick Airport, Britain’s second busiest airport and major hub for budget carrier EasyJet, reported that flight schedules were unaffected. The water supply interruption remained confined to terminal operations and did not compromise flight departures or arrivals.
