Gatwick North Terminal hit by second water outage in a month
Restaurants and cafes closed as SES Water confirms burst pipe caused disruption.
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Gatwick Airport's North Terminal experienced a significant water outage on 29 July 2026, leading to the temporary closure of numerous restaurants and cafes. Passengers reported difficulties with basic facilities, including handwashing stations and toilet flushing, with one traveller describing the situation as a potential biohazard. The airport has not yet confirmed any impact on flight schedules.
Cause of the disruption
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander gave the final go-ahead for the runway's repositioning in September last year.
SES Water, the water supplier for the airport, confirmed that a burst pipe in a nearby field was the cause of the supply interruption. The company stated that emergency repair works were initiated to restore water services. This incident marks the second water supply issue at Gatwick Airport within the past month, following a previous outage that also affected catering and restroom facilities.
Travellers took to social media to express their frustration, with some noting a lack of immediate announcements from airport authorities regarding the shortage. One passenger shared online, "I’m in Gatwick airport rn and there’s no water in the entire airport, can’t even wash your hands." Another commented, "There’s no water in the entire airport, you can't even wash your hands, women’s toilets can’t flush. Restaurants can’t serve food. Nightmare for travellers."
Previous incidents and response
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Engineering works and amended timetables will affect services on Sunday and Monday.
SES Water issued an apology for the disruption caused to customers and partners, thanking them for their patience during the restoration efforts. The previous water outage last month was attributed to a power failure at a water treatment plant in southeast England. Travel expert Lisa Francessa Nand described the recurring nature of such disruptions as "unprecedented" in comments made last month.
Questions this report answers
+What caused the water outage at Gatwick Airport?
SES Water confirmed that a burst pipe in a field was the cause of the water outage affecting Gatwick Airport's North Terminal. Emergency repair works were undertaken to restore the supply.
+Which parts of Gatwick Airport were affected by the water shortage?
The water outage specifically impacted the North Terminal. Restaurants and cafes within the terminal were forced to close, and passengers reported issues with handwashing facilities and toilet flushing.
+Have flights been disrupted by the water outage?
As of the latest reports, there have been no flight disruptions caused by the water shortage at Gatwick Airport. The airport has continued to operate flights despite the internal facility issues.
+Is this the first water outage at Gatwick Airport recently?
No, this is the second water outage at Gatwick Airport within a month. The previous incident also led to the closure of restaurants and affected toilet facilities.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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