South West Water is continuing to find and fix an unprecedented number of burst water mains, caused by the cold weather and subsequent thaw. The snow and ice on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 March, some of the worst in recent years, not only made travelling hazardous but also made it very difficult to locate bursts. Good progress is being made, but it remains a moving picture of bursts being fixed and new ones occurring due to ongoing ground movement. Repairs are being prioritised according to the number of customers affected, the potential amount of water lost and whether a burst is a danger to public safety.
We continue to advise the majority of customers who have water to store some and use it wisely.
Jo Ecroyd, South West Water’s Customer Services Director, said: “Firstly, we would like to thank customers for their patience during this challenging time. There are a number of ongoing issues across the region but good progress is being made by South West Water and our partners as we continue to work around the clock to restore services. This includes reconfiguring our networks to distribute supplies from alternate sources where necessary to minimise the impact on customers.
“Alternative water supplies are being provided to those most affected. In particular we have been focusing on vulnerable groups in the community. Details of all current service issues which we are responding to can be found at www.southwestwater.co.uk and we would urge customers to check the website for updates before contacting us direct. We are also doing our best to provide updates through text messages to registered customers in areas affected.
“To make the best use of the water available we would encourage all customers to use water wisely and check for any bursts or leaks within their own properties. Details of how to do this can be found at www.southwestwater.co.uk/interruptions.
“Once again I would like to thank customers for their understanding and all those staff working hard to minimise disruption as quickly and safely as possible.”
