South East Water

South East Water (SEW) is a water company operating in Kent and Sussex, England. It is currently facing significant scrutiny and criticism due to repeated supply failures affecting hundreds of thousands of residents between 2020 and 2023. Ofwat, the water regulator, recently fined SEW £22.5 million for these failures, citing the company's inability to develop and maintain an efficient water supply network, even though extreme weather was a factor. More recently, major incidents have left tens of thousands of homes without water for extended periods, sometimes due to burst pipes from storms or cold weather, and in one instance, due to the accidental addition of wrong chemicals. The Environment Secretary has called for a review of SEW's operating license, raising the possibility of the company being placed under special administration if Ofwat determines it has breached its obligations. The company's performance and regulatory oversight are now matters of significant public and political concern.