London Gatwick Airport experienced a water supply disruption on the morning of 26 July 2026 affecting both terminals. The outage originated from a power failure at a water treatment plant near Horley, impacting water pressure and interrupting supply across parts of the area including the airport.
Impact on Passenger Facilities
The disruption prevented passengers from flushing toilets, washing their hands, accessing hot drinks, and refilling water bottles. Airport restaurants closed temporarily due to the lack of running water. To manage passenger welfare, bottled water was distributed to both travelers and airport staff as an emergency measure.
Flight Operations and Airlines
Despite the loss of water services, Gatwick confirmed
that flight operations were unaffected on 26 July 2026. The airport serves as Britain’s second busiest and is a major hub for budget airlines including EasyJet, which continued operations without interruption.
Official Responses and Ongoing Efforts
Gatwick Airport stated: “A water issue in the Horley area is causing disruption at the airport this morning. The problem is affecting water supply in both terminals and is currently under investigation.” They added that bottled water distribution and additional contingency plans were activated to safeguard passenger welfare.
SES Water, the regional supplier responsible for the affected area, attributed the outage to a power failure at a nearby water
treatment facility that reduced water pressure. SES Water confirmed it was working closely with Gatwick Airport to restore normal water service as promptly as possible.
