London Gatwick Airport experienced a water supply disruption on the morning of 26 July 2026, affecting passenger amenities in both terminals. The issue impaired basic services such as toilet flushing, hand washing, access to hot drinks, and water bottle refilling at Britain’s second busiest airport.
Cause of Disruption and Contingency Measures
The disruption originated from a power outage at a water treatment facility in the nearby Horley area, according to regional supplier SES Water. The outage caused low water pressure and interruptions to supply affecting the airport. SES Water confirmed its cooperation with Gatwick Airport to restore normal service. To mitigate the impact, Gatwick Airport distributed
bottled water to passengers and staff and implemented contingency actions to support passenger welfare.
Impact on Passenger Facilities and Flight Operations
The water issue forced the closure of several restaurants within the airport terminals due to the inability to access water necessary for operations. Hygiene facilities were compromised, restricting passenger ability to flush toilets and wash hands. Despite these challenges to amenities and services, Gatwick Airport confirmed that flight schedules and operations remained unaffected throughout the disruption. EasyJet, a major budget airline operating at Gatwick, was among the carriers operating normally during the event.
