Gatwick Airport has been hit by a major water outage that has left passengers without working toilets or running water at both terminals. The disruption, which began earlier this week, has affected drinking fountains and restroom facilities, forcing the airport to bring in emergency supplies.
Travellers reported being unable to flush toilets or fill water bottles, with some describing the conditions as uncomfortable and worrying. The airport confirmed that a fault in the water supply system had caused the outage and that engineers were working to restore normal service as quickly as possible.
Gatwick is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom, handling over 40 million passengers annually. The loss of running water at such a large facility has raised concerns about the resilience of critical infrastructure at major transport hubs. While flights continued to operate, the lack of basic amenities added to the stress of travellers during the busy summer period.
Passengers were advised to bring their own bottled water and to use alternative facilities provided by the airport. Portable toilets and hand sanitiser stations were set up in departure and arrival areas. The airport also said it was distributing free bottled water to those in need.
The cause of the outage has not been disclosed, but similar incidents in the past have been linked to burst mains, pump failures, or scheduled maintenance work. Gatwick Airport said it was investigating the root cause and would take steps to prevent a recurrence. The timing of the outage, during the peak holiday season, has amplified the impact on passengers already dealing with long queues and delays.
Local authorities have been notified, and the airport is liaising with the water supplier to ensure a swift resolution. There have been no reports of flight cancellations directly related to the water issue, but some passengers expressed frustration at the lack of advance warning.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of essential services at large transport nodes. Airports depend on continuous water supply for hygiene, catering, and cooling systems. Any prolonged outage can quickly escalate into a health and safety concern. Similar water failures have occurred at other airports in recent years, prompting calls for better contingency plans.
As of the latest update, water supply was gradually being restored in parts of the South Terminal, but the North Terminal remained affected. Engineers were expected to complete repairs within the next 24 hours. The airport said it would continue to provide bottled water and portable facilities until full service is resumed.
Passengers scheduled to travel through Gatwick in the coming days are advised to check with their airline for any changes and to arrive prepared for possible inconvenience. The airport has apologised for the disruption and thanked travellers for their patience.
