A water supply disruption at London Gatwick Airport on 26 July 2026 caused temporary closures of airport restaurants and interrupted passenger services in both terminals without affecting flight operations.
Cause and Official Response
The disruption originated from a power outage at a water treatment facility in the nearby Horley area. The outage reduced water pressure and supply, affecting parts of the surrounding area including Gatwick Airport, Britain’s second busiest airport and a key hub for budget airline EasyJet.
Gatwick Airport officials confirmed the water supply issue was being investigated and said, “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.” SES Water, the regional supplier, reported complications caused by the power outage and stated it was working closely with the airport to restore normal water service as quickly as possible.
Impact on Passengers and Services
Passengers experienced the inability to flush toilets, wash hands, access hot drinks, or refill water bottles due to the shutdown of running water in both airport terminals. Restaurants at Gatwick Airport temporarily closed as a result of the water shortage. The airport activated contingency measures to mitigate the effects of the outage on traveller
welfare.
Bottled water was distributed to passengers and staff to address immediate needs. Despite these service disruptions, Gatwick Airport confirmed all flight operations continued unaffected throughout the incident. Airport authorities emphasized the ongoing effort to minimise passenger inconvenience while resolving the water supply issue.
