Power outage at water works causes supply disruption around Chichester
A power cut on the evening of 23 October at Lodsworth Water Supply Works reduced reservoir levels and led to interruptions to water supplies for communities near Chichester. Southern Water said the incident had a ‘potential risk’ of supply interruptions affecting more than 2,000 homes, and local businesses were also hit.
The outage affected the treatment works that feeds a nearby reservoir. Southern Water and partner engineers used a generator to restore power to the site and carried out a controlled restart of the treatment process. Reservoir levels recovered overnight and Southern Water said teams would continue to monitor recovery and network performance until conditions were back to normal.
- Location: Lodsworth Water Supply Works (feeds a nearby reservoir)
- Date and time: Friday evening, 23 October
- Homes potentially affected: more than 2,000
- Businesses impacted: Langham Brewery among those left without water and power
- Operator response: bottled water deliveries, generator used, controlled restart of treatment works
"Following restoration of power via the generator, operational teams completed a controlled restart of the treatment works to ensure supplies were restored safely and reliably. Reservoir levels recovered steadily overnight and continue to improve."
Langham Brewery in Lodsworth confirmed its shop and taproom had to close on Friday and Saturday, adding to local disruption. Bottled water was delivered to customers within the affected area while operators worked to reinstate the full supply.
UK Power Networks recorded several outages in the locality; the company flagged postcodes GU8, GU27, GU28 and GU29 among those impacted. Southern Water warned the power loss had significantly affected reservoir levels and that a controlled, cautious restart of the treatment works was needed to ensure water quality and reliability were not compromised.
| Date | Site | Immediate impact |
|---|---|---|
| 23 October | Lodsworth Water Supply Works | Power outage; reservoir levels lowered; risk to supplies for 2,000+ homes |
| 24 October | Distribution network (affected postcodes) | Outages recorded in GU8, GU27, GU28, GU29; bottled water deliveries and generator use |
For residents, the episode underlines how power and water systems are interdependent. When a treatment works loses electricity, pumping and treatment processes cannot operate as normal and reservoirs can fall quickly. That can translate into low pressure, intermittent supply, or complete loss of tap water for households and businesses until power is re-established or temporary measures are put in place.
Southern Water thanked customers for their patience and said teams were continuing to monitor the network. The operator’s account indicates the situation was resolved without a prolonged collapse of supplies, but the company did not specify exactly how many households ultimately experienced an interruption or how long individual properties were without service.
Local businesses and residents reliant on piped water were advised to follow operator guidance during such incidents, including conserving water where asked, using bottled supplies provided for drinking and basic needs, and checking supplier updates for information on restoration times. Businesses without mains water or electricity can face additional costs and lost trade when forced to close, as Langham Brewery experienced.
As work continues to monitor the recovery, the incident will prompt questions about resilience where essential services are co‑dependent. Households and small firms in the Chichester area are likely to want reassurance from both water and power companies about contingency arrangements should similar outages occur in future.
