Thames Water, the supplier, has issued an apology and is working to refill reservoirs and restore water supply, which is expected to happen gradually throughout the following Monday. Bottled water stations were set up for the affected residents, but supplies at one location have run out.
Surrey County Council has declared a major incident, and local MP Jeremy Hunt has been providing updates, including information from the Thames Water CEO about efforts to restore water supply. Between 5,000 and 10,000 homes are believed to be affected, with schools and nurseries awaiting official guidance on potential closures.
There has been significant impact on the community, with local businesses like pubs losing trade and residents struggling to obtain bottled water due to high demand and panic buying. Some residents have expressed their reluctance to use plastic bottles for environmental reasons.
Thames Water and local councils are planning to restock bottled water stations and have asked the community to avoid unnecessary travel and consider carpooling to reduce traffic. The incident reflects the challenges faced during infrastructure failures and the impact of severe weather events on essential services.