South East Water Chief Executive David Hinton Resigns After Kent, Sussex Supply Failures

David Hinton, the Chief Executive of South East Water, has stepped down from his role, the company confirmed. His resignation comes after extensive criticism regarding significant water supply failures that impacted up to 30,000 properties in Kent and Sussex during November, December, and January.

South East Water stated that Mr Hinton would remain in post for a transitional period over the summer. The company indicated his position had become an “increasing distraction” from its primary objective of delivering a resilient water supply to customers.

This announcement follows the resignation of Chris Train, South East Water’s chair, a week prior. Both departures occurred in the wake of a highly critical report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, published on 1 May. The parliamentary report accused the water company of exhibiting poor leadership, weak governance, and a culture lacking accountability.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Public Impact

The regulator Ofwat is currently investigating South East Water regarding the incidents and is consulting on a potential fine of £22 million for separate supply disruptions that occurred between 2020 and 2023. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is also conducting an investigation, having previously concluded that the November incident was “foreseeable and preventable,” attributing it to “longstanding weaknesses” in management and operational preparedness.

The initial outage between 29 November and 4 December left most of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas without water or with low pressure, which the company blamed on a disinfection issue at Pembury Water Treatment Works. A subsequent outage in January, affecting areas including East Grinstead, Maidstone, and Canterbury, was attributed to Storm Goretti and cold weather.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds welcomed Mr Hinton's resignation, stating it “must mark the beginning of positive change at South East Water.” Similarly, Alistair Carmichael MP, chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, described the resignation as “obviously the right thing for him to have done.”

Local businesses and residents expressed their relief and frustration. Richard Hards, a butcher in Tunbridge Wells, recounted losing thousands of pounds in revenue due to having to shut his business for a week. Jason Denny, a care home manager, described the severe impact on vulnerable residents, necessitating the use of 2,000 bottles of water daily. Murat Askin, a cafe and bar owner, emphasised that residents were “left without basic essentials for days,” and expressed hope that Mr Hinton’s resignation would signal a shift towards “action, not just apologies.”