A major incident has been declared on the Isle of Sheppey after an estimated 30,000 people have been left without water for the second day amid a heatwave.

The Sheppey Crossing was closed for a temporary high-volume water pump and 5km of hose to be installed to try to solve the problem.

KMTV reports from the Isle of Sheppey

Fire crews are still at the scene taking water from a fire hydrant by the Kingsferry Bridge.

This evening, as some residents reported water was beginning to trickle through their taps in Sheerness, a spokesman for Swale Borough Council said: “We’ve activated our emergency protocols as we have declared the water shortage on the Isle of Sheppey as a major incident.

“The initial Southern Water mains pipe burst was repaired overnight, but during the network refill in the early hours of the morning a second burst occurred.

“Southern Water have stated that repairs to the second burst are now complete, and they are once again slowly refilling the reservoirs. They have had a team on site 24/7 working to fix the issues, and the current focus is restocking supplies and making water available to residents.

“We are supporting Southern Water and other agencies with logistics, by supporting the co-ordination of deliveries to vulnerable residents, offering mutual aid to the agencies and organisations involved, and deploying staff to assist at the water distribution sites.

“Anyone needing additional help can contact Southern Water on 0330 3030368.”

Collection sites were set up in Leysdown behind an amusement arcade in the Promenade, at one of the Eastchurch prisons, Tesco in Sheerness and Minster Working Men’s Club. They are expected reopen at 7am on Thursday but some may be "relocated". Details of the new locations will be announce at 5am.

Kent Search and Rescue volunteers used Neats Court retail park this evening to distribute an estimated 18,000 litres of water in bottles across the Island.

Southern Water apologised after admitting it was taking longer than expected to restore supplies in what has been one of the hottest weeks on record but said repairs have now been completed.

It said: "Repairs to the Isle of Sheppey burst are complete and we’re slowly starting to refill the network. This is to protect the quality of the water we’re sending back to your taps.

"If you’re leaving the house, check taps are turned off just in case your water comes back while you’re out."

It warned that the water may be discoloured when it returns but should clear within 48 hours and added: "Our bottled water stations are open and continue to be re-stocked. We’re really sorry again for the disruption caused."

It also used social media to hit out at what it claimed to be a fake post that a third pipe burst was threatening to delay the return of water to homes and businesses.

Meanwhile, Kent County Council said all its buildings including schools, libraries, children’s centres, and the Sheerness Gateway had been closed because of the water shortage.

It added: “We are working with the Kent Resilience Forum to support Southern Water. We understand the concern this will cause and are working to ensure the most vulnerable are properly protected.”

Earlier this morning, Southern Water tweeted: "We’re sorry again to everyone without water.

"It’s taking longer than expected to bring supplies back, due to a second burst we’ve been dealing with overnight."

This afternoon, just after 1.30pm, it said: "Repairs to the #IsleofSheppey burst are complete and we’re slowly starting to refill the network.

"Bottled water stations are also still open and continue to be re-stocked.

"We’re really sorry again for the disruption."

The problem started yesterday when taps ran dry following a fault in the main pipeline that carries the island's water from the mainland.

Last night 15 volunteers from the South East 4x4 Response helped with water distribution to vulnerable people and households. They travelled on average 100 miles each. They were out again tonight.

Some Islanders also faced a double-whammy with a planned power cut although UK Power Networks later postponed its work. There were unconfirmed reports of bottles of water left on doorsteps being stolen, people collecting water in wheelbarrows and even some filling up containers in the sea.

Motorists also had to face traffic problems as the Island-bound carriageway of the Sheppey Crossing bridge was closed as part of the water repairs.

Minster Working Men's Club was turned into an emergency hub. Club secretary Kim Smith, who had been on duty since 5.30am, said: "I tell you what, it's really brought the community together. We have had committee members, members and friends of members all come up to help."

Asked about Southern Water she said: "You know what? Stuff happens. I've no grudge against them. They are trying to do their best but it's hard."

Club president Paul Dewberry received a call last night asking if Southern Water could use the car park as a holding zone and immediately agreed. But he said: "We were waiting for the go-ahead from Swale council but then reports of us having water appeared on social media and everyone started turning up. So we started handing it out anyway."

He said volunteers suffered verbal abuse from some impatient motorists. The club was due to open at 6am today but fresh supplies didn't arrive until 10am.

Taxi driver Dan Toomey from iCars was filling up his cab with water to give to vulnerable customers. He said: "We are asking customers and vulnerable people to call us. We will deliver a packet of water right to the door of people who really need it and can't make it to centres like this."

He added: "It's a terrible situation. We have heard two rumours, one that the leak will be repaired tonight and one that it won't be repaired until Monday. I have two children and managed to get water to them but Southern Water need to be getting water to those who need it. At the moment, we're doing the job for them."

Yesterday the cab company distributed 34 cases of six two-litre bottles. It collected the first 19 packs from Minster Working Men's Club and when that was closed, drove to Leysdown to pick up another 15 cases.

As well as schools being shut, many employers also told their staff to work from home.

"No water at the Sheerness water collection point @SouthernWater apparently they’re waiting for it to be delivered. Dreadful inefficiency."

Emergency supplies of bottled water were made available but this morning people said they were having trouble picking up supplies as roads became gridlocked. At one stage there was so much traffic, Sheerness became gridlocked as motorists tried to reach Tesco in Bridge Road.

Dominic Soave tweeted: "No water at the Sheerness water collection point @SouthernWater apparently they’re waiting for it to be delivered. Dreadful inefficiency."

On Tuesday just after 9pm Southern Water announced it had restored supplies but this morning back-tracked and admitted it had now found another leak.

The water shortage has been caused by at least two large leaks on the main pipe taking water onto the Island from the mainland.

Engineers have been working in a field along the Old Sheppey Way and on the mainland by Ridham Dock near the Kingsferry Bridge.

A spokesman insisted: "Our teams are working as quickly as possible to solve this issue.

"We can’t specify numbers of homes at this time due to some experiencing a loss of pressure and others a loss of supply.

"Due to the nature of the network and how water pressure reacts around the network it is impossible to give an accurate figure."

Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson said: "As an Islander myself, I, too, have been without water for the last 24 hours so can understand the frustration felt by my fellow residents.

"However, we must accept the burst water main that caused the problem was outside of anybody’s control and could have happened at any time. It is just unfortunate it has happened at the hottest time of the year.

"Since the emergency arose I have received regular updates from Southern Water who I was pleased to see immediately delivered bottled water to 2,000, including those in care homes. I understand that they also delivered water to Sheppey Community Hospital and the Island’s prisons.

"I understand that Southern Water repaired the burst water main in the early hours of this morning but when they pumped water through the main, they were then confronted with a second leak which has necessitated replacement of the whole pipe. Unfortunately, this could take all day."

He said if any vulnerable people needed water supplies they could call his office on 01795 423199 and he would contact Southern Water. He has asked water bosses for a meeting to ensure Sheppey is not left without water again.

At least 24,000 are served by the two storage reservoirs at Chequers and Queenborough Corner.

Furious Islanders have been queuing for water. One woman stuck in traffic stormed: "This is ridiculous and beyond a joke. I'm sitting here using petrol just to get some water.

"They should be delivering water directly to all houses now. What about all those who don't have cars? How are they going to manage?

"Doesn't the water company know how many people now live on Sheppey or visit? We are always at the end of the line."

Fed up councillors at Queenborough took the law into their own hands and bought up a lorry load of bottled water worth £6,000 from Aldi's distribution centre to give to residents themselves.

Cllr Cameron Beart said: "We are just waiting for the lorry to arrive. We've had no help at this end of the Island and couldn't wait any longer. It's been total chaos. Southern Water don't seem to know what they are doing."

Tim Bell who lives in Scrapsgate Road, Minster, said: "In 2016 the water company said it had learned lessons and installed a secondary main to pump water to Sheppey from Highstead valley near Sittingbourne. They gave an assurance that it could not happen again."

He added: "When they closed the Island's independent wells at Trinity Road, the dockyard and at Sheerness East they promised our water supply would be safe coming from the mainland. But that proved to be wrong in 2016. Six years later, I'd like to know what happened to the backup pipe?

"Questions need to be asked. How can we trust our water supply?"

Southern Water's Simon Fluendy, helping to co-ordinate efforts at the Leysdown centre behind an amusement park, said: “We are very sorry about this. The main pipe taking water to Sheppey from the mainland burst at the weekend and was repaired but it has burst again.

“We are working it as quickly as possible and have brought in a special team of experts from Newcastle to help."

He added across the company's area, which covers Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, it would provide some 540 million litres per day but on Saturday this rose to 659 million litres – just short of the 671 million record in July 2018.

Mr Fluendy said the company had invested in a fleet of six tankers which are delivering water to the island’s three prisons and hospital.

Lorraine St John who runs Kent Wildlife Rescue Services from her home in Sheerness needs water 24/7 for her menagerie of wildlife including 25 foxes, 30 hedgehogs and a rescue dog.

She said: “We had to drive all the way from Sheerness to Leysdown to pick up our water. Why? Last time it was much better organised with pick-up points at Tesco and Morrisons. Instead we had to drive from one end of the island to the other and and missed two call-outs while got caught in traffic on Leysdown Promenade.

“It was chaos. But the chaps giving out the bottles were brilliant. They filled up the back of the van then put some in the passenger seat.”

A spokesman for Southern Water said the Leysdown car park was chosen because it had access for lorries bringing in water bottles.

He added that other sites had been “scoped” but rejected although both Tesco and Minster WMC proved difficult to reach because of the sheer volume of cars.

Some arrived at collection points in vans and others turned up pushing buggies, some with children still inside. Others abandoned the idea entirely and were seen filling buckets with seawater at Minster Leas for their toilets.

A spokesman for Swale Borough Council said: “We’re supporting Southern Water as they work to repair the broken pipe by identifying and making available water station sites around the island, and ensuring vulnerable residents are being supported.

“They are in the process of setting up water stations where residents can collect bottled water around the island and locations will be shared on Southern Water’s social media which we will also share. Anyone needing additional help can contact Southern Water on 0330 3030368.”

Minster-on-Sea parish council clerk Trish Hamilton said the authority had been "working with Southern Water and Swale council" to set up a distribution point for Minster residents.

The island has experienced water losses before with the latest incident in October 2020 following a burst main.

In 2016 residents lost supplies when a main burst along the A249. Some were left without any water for 24 hours.