Overview

A significant water outage across Kent in early 2026 was declared a major incident, affecting around 30,000 properties and businesses. The disruption followed Storm Goretti and prolonged sub-zero temperatures, which caused burst pipes and power cuts. Despite ongoing repair works many businesses were left without a reliable water supply.

ISS is a service provider operating within the fresh produce sector in the UK. Operating an industrial-scale fruit and vegetable packing facility in Kent, water is integral to maintaining day-to-day business functions. The business relies on a continuous water supply for washing and processing produce.

ISS contacted Countrystyle Recycling, their contracted waste management partner for bespoke facility solutions, after losing all mains water. With operations heavily dependent on a safe and reliable water supply, an urgent solution was required to avoid downtime and potential non-delivery penalties.

Approach

Countrystyle Recycling engaged sister company, FGS Agri who responded immediately, assessing the customer’s specific operational requirements and the volume of water needed to keep the packhouse running safely and compliantly. The priority was on speed of response whilst ensuring the provision of a wholesome temporary potable water supply that could integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure.

Drawing on our experience in planned and emergency utility operations, the team designed a bespoke, short-term solution that could be deployed without disrupting site activities.

Solution

FGS Agri installed a 10,000 litre potable water storage tank at the Linton site. Potable water is water that is safe for direct human consumption and food preparation.

The tank was fitted with a pressure-on-demand pump, allowing water to be delivered directly into the packhouse as if it was supplied through the mains network at a consistent pressure and flow, mirroring a normal mains supply. The storage tank was then replenished as needed to maintain uninterrupted operations.

Once the wider water outage was resolved, all equipment was removed quickly and efficiently by our team. Hire was provided on a straightforward daily rate, offering flexibility and cost control for the customer.

Results & Benefits

· Business continuity maintained: ISS was able to continue washing and packing produce to satisfy their onward supermarket retailer contracts without interruption.

· Risk reduction: The rapid response helped avoid the risk of severe non-delivery penalties or any reputational damage.

· Tailored emergency response: A solution designed specifically around the customer’s operational needs, rather than a generic fix.

· Speed and reliability: From first contact to a fully operational system within hours.

· Future resilience: Contingency assessments are scheduled to be carried out across the client’s other sites.