On Sunday, July 26, 2026, a significant power outage at the Bough Beech Water Treatment Works in southeast England led to a major disruption at Gatwick Airport, located south of London. The outage resulted in toilets being out of order and the closure of several restaurants within the airport, creating a challenging situation for passengers. SES Water, the company responsible for the water supply, reported that the outage caused a drop in water pressure and temporary loss of service for customers in the surrounding Kent and Sussex counties. The airport management issued an apology via social media, acknowledging the inconvenience faced by travelers in both terminals. Despite claims from the airport that bottled water was being provided to passengers, some individuals disputed this, stating they had not seen any distribution of water bottles. Paul Lee, a passenger at the airport, expressed his concerns about the lack of communication regarding the water shut-off and the absence of available water. He noted that while he was departing soon, the situation would be dire for passengers arriving later. The closure of bars and restaurants due to the water outage exacerbated the situation, leading to overcrowding in the airport terminals. Michael Dugher, a former member of Parliament, highlighted the discomfort faced by passengers, many of whom were left sitting on the floor due to a shortage of seating. He urged the airport authorities to open additional spaces to accommodate the growing number of travelers. As SES Water worked to restore service, the airport continued to face criticism from passengers and public figures alike. The incident raised concerns about the infrastructure and contingency plans in place for such emergencies, prompting discussions about the need for better communication and support for travelers during unexpected disruptions.