South East Water boss admits 'I got it wrong' in handling of supply outages

South East Water boss admits 'I got it wrong' in handling of supply outagesSouth East Water's chief executive David Hinton has been grilled by MPs about the company's response to the supply interruptions in Kent and Sussex that left thousands of home without waterCommentsNewsRebecca Speare-Cole Press Association Sustainability Reporter15:13, 14 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesDavid Hinton, the Chief Executive of South East Water, admitted the firm 'got it wrong' when asked about supply problems(Image: © 2026 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)South East Water's chief executive has conceded he "got it wrong" in his management of recent water outages, making a remorseful appearance before MPs.‌Company bosses were put through their paces by the parliamentary Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee today, as members quizzed them over their handling of multiple supply disruptions in Kent and Sussex.‌Tunbridge Wells endured a prolonged outage in November and December, before thousands of homes across Kent and Sussex saw their supply cut off in January, leaving many residents without drinking water for days.‌Customers found themselves with no tap water, unable to shower or bathe and left unable to flush their toilets, while a number of schools were forced to shut their doors.READ MORE: Water bills: Ways to cut your costs before April 1 including scheme saving you £325READ MORE: Water bills to rise by even more than expected for millions of homesView 4 ImagesThousands of homes in Tunbridge Wells were left without water in January(Image: Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images)Throughout the crisis, chief executive David Hinton faced repeated criticism for declining to give interviews and for a lack of "clear communication" with South East Water (SEW) customers.‌On Tuesday, Mr Hinton acknowledged he had failed to communicate swiftly enough during the outages, telling MPs: "I got it wrong, and that's very much a lesson that we&...