London Gatwick Airport experienced a water supply disruption on Sunday morning, 26 July 2026, affecting both terminals. The outage led to the closure of airport restaurants and caused significant interruptions to passenger services including toilets, food and drink facilities.
Cause of the Water Outage
The disruption was caused by a power failure at a nearby water treatment plant in the Horley area close to the airport. Regional water supplier SES Water reported that the power outage resulted in reduced water pressure and a temporary loss of supply affecting Gatwick Airport and surrounding locations. SES Water confirmed it was actively working with the airport to restore
the water supply.
Passenger Impact and Emergency Measures
Passengers at Gatwick were unable to flush toilets, wash hands, access hot drinks, or refill water bottles due to the water outage. Airport authorities responded by distributing bottled water to passengers and staff as a contingency measure. Restaurants in both terminals were closed for the duration of the disruption, and additional contingency plans were implemented to support passenger welfare.
Flight Operations and Official Statements
Despite the widespread disruption to passenger facilities, flight operations at London Gatwick Airport remained unaffected. The airport authority issued a statement: “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, “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 acknowledged the outage had caused complications, including low water pressure or temporary supply loss for multiple customers. The company is coordinating closely with Gatwick to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Gatwick Airport’s Role in UK Air Travel
London Gatwick is the United Kingdom’s second busiest airport and a key hub for budget carriers such as EasyJet. The airport handles a high volume of
passengers daily, making the water supply outage and related service interruptions notable for travellers and airport operations alike.
