"We couldn't just sit at home": Couple help villagers hit by water outage
A family-run builders' merchant in Harrietsham became an unlikely lifeline when taps ran dry across Kent and Sussex this week.
A Harrietsham builders’ merchant became an unexpected source of support last weekend (10-12 January 2026) as thousands of homes across Kent and Sussex were left without water.
The outage, caused by supply failures across the South East water region, left bottled water stations struggling to keep up with demand. In Headcorn, supplies ran out temporarily and some residents reported that shops raised the price of bottled water during the shortage.
Against that backdrop, a slow trickle from a single kitchen tap at B&S Building Supplies became a vital lifeline.
The small, family-run business on the edge of the village opened its doors on Saturday and invited anyone with a container to fill up. A simple social media post quickly spread, and soon, residents arrived with whatever containers they could find.
Owner Matthew Barker, who launched the business only last year, hadn’t planned to spend the weekend running an impromptu water station. But when the outage hit, the decision to help came easily.
“Our water isn’t running particularly fast,” he said, watching another bottle fill slowly under the tap, “but it was enough to get people out of a dire situation. If anyone is still without, they’re welcome to pop down. We’re more than happy to help.”
The moment that spurred the couple into action and opened their doors on Sunday came when Matthew’s partner, Adele, saw an online message from a new mother who was worried about preparing formula for her baby. It struck a chord. Alongside running the business, the pair are caring for their premature newborn and three older children – a full load even without a regional water crisis.
“We just couldn’t be at home in Ashford knowing people here were struggling,” Adele said. “It felt wrong not to do something.”
By Sunday morning, the shop had become a small hub of community life. Residents collected water, swapped updates and shared a few moments of relief. One woman arrived apologising for “bothering them” and clutching a single container. She left with a full bottle and a smile after chatting with Adele and Matthew.
Praise poured in across local community pages, with residents calling the gesture “a godsend” and “a real act of kindness”. Kent County Councillor Steve Povey also publicly acknowledged the effort, posting “A big shout out to B&S Building Supplies who are offering water.”
The recognition adds to a growing list. B&S Building Supplies was recently a finalist in the Builders Merchant Awards 2025, highlighting its rising reputation both locally and within the industry.
For Matthew and Adele, the weekend was exhausting but affirming. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the kind comments,” Matthew said. “We’re just a family trying to do our bit for an area that has welcomed us with open arms. One positive from all this was meeting so many locals.”
In a weekend defined by empty taps, it was community spirit that kept flowing.
True Colours ISSN 2977-6120