On the morning of July 26, 2026, a water supply disruption occurred at London Gatwick Airport, the UK’s second busiest airport and a major hub for budget airlines including EasyJet. The outage affected water availability in both terminals and impacted passenger facilities including toilets, handwashing stations, hot drink service, and water bottle refill points.
Cause of the Outage and SES Water Response
The disruption was caused by a power outage at a nearby water treatment facility in the Horley area near Gatwick Airport. This outage lowered water pressure and interrupted supply to the airport terminals. Regional utility SES Water acknowledged the power outage and said it was working
closely with Gatwick Airport to restore normal water services as quickly as possible.
Airport Operations and Contingency Measures
Despite the water supply issue, Gatwick Airport confirmed that flight operations were unaffected. To mitigate passenger discomfort, airport authorities distributed bottled water to both passengers and staff. Additional contingency measures were activated to maintain passenger welfare during the ongoing disruption on the morning of July 26, 2026.
Traveler Impact and Official Statements
The water outage prevented passengers from flushing toilets, washing hands, accessing hot beverages, and refilling water bottles within the terminals. 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.” The airport added, “Bottled water is being handed out to passengers and staff, and other contingency measures are being put in place to ensure the welfare of our passengers.” SES Water attributed the disruption to a power outage at the nearby treatment facility causing low water pressure and temporary loss of supply in parts of the area, including Gatwick.
