Full Breakdown
Water Outage Disrupts Facilities at Gatwick Airport
8/28/2026, 8:50:14 PM
Core Event
On August 28, Gatwick Airport announced that a burst water main in Horley was temporarily affecting water supply in both its North and South terminals. The outage halted toilet flushing, hand-washing stations, and water fountains, though food outlets in the North Terminal remained open for seating only. Flights continued to operate without interruption.
Background
The incident follows a major supply failure in July, when a power loss at SES Water’s Bough Beech Water Treatment Works left both terminals without running water for several hours. That earlier outage caused long queues for toilets and forced the closure of restaurants and bars across the airport.
Official Statements & Responses
He apologized for the disruption and pledged ongoing updates.
Passenger Reactions
Travelers reported frustration with the lack of basic facilities. Natasha Nzekwe, preparing to fly to Amsterdam from the North Terminal, described the situation as “quite frustrating” and noted the inability to wash hands. Naduni Abeywickrama, traveling from London to Aberdeen, called the delay “extremely frustrating” and expressed disappointment that this was the second such incident.
