But KCC Leader Linden Kemkaran has pledged to continue pushing for proper compensation and a thorough investigation to prevent the ‘disgraceful’ situation happening again.
The moves follow South East Water’s lifting today of safety advice for local residents, businesses and public services to boil tap water before essential use.
KCC along with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) declared a Major Incident on Wednesday, 3 December. It came as communities faced a fourth day without water and South East Water could give no timeline for resolving ongoing water quality issues at its Pembury Water Treatment Plant.
“On behalf of Tunbridge Wells residents and businesses I will continue to push in the strongest terms for fair and proper compensation”
KCC Leader Linden Kemkaran said: “I am incredibly relieved for the 24,000 residents and businesses who have been affected by this unprecedented and unacceptable disruption that has gone on for almost two weeks that they finally have drinking water flowing from their taps ahead of Christmas.
“But, as I said in my letter to the Environment Secretary earlier this week, not having access to clean running water for up to six days, then having to boil water for essential use is, in this day and age, beyond disgraceful.
“As well as making daily life extremely difficult for communities, including schools and care homes that KCC is responsible for, it’s had a real impact on local businesses – and threatened the viability of the local economy.
“I’m now seriously concerned standard compensation levels will not be enough to cover losses incurred. On behalf of Tunbridge Wells residents and businesses I will continue to push in the strongest terms for fair and proper compensation.
"I am pleased to see the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has acted swiftly and called South East Water to attend an evidence session in the new year.
“I will also continue to call for a thorough investigation into what happened here, including the adequacy of South East Water’s response in light of repeated failures in recent years.
"A situation like this must never happen again.”
