Residents in Ventnor, St Lawrence, Whitwell and Niton are now reporting a total loss of water supply or low pressure this afternoon (Saturday) just hours after a warning 4,600 properties could be cut off. As previously reported, Southern Water says 4,600 customers in the Ventnor area may experience an ‘intermittent loss of supply’ or ‘temporary low pressure’ to the mains water supply as it works to recharge the wider fresh water network. It follows problems at Testwood Water Treatment Works on the mainland, which has led to 20,000 homes being without water. Tankers are currently pumping thousands of litres of water into the local network via fire hydrants in Upper Ventnor, but this doesn’t seem to be enough to keep all properties on supply. 
Earlier today Island Echo was told that bottled water was being delivered to all affected customers, but readers and social media commentators say this isn’t the case – and not even everyone on the Priority Services Register has received ‘courtesy’ water. Some of the free water was delivered overnight, but bottles are still being delivered now with 2 men in a white van seen going door to door in Upper Ventnor. 
Southern Water has reaffirmed that ‘all’ customers in the impacted area on the Isle of Wight will receive bottled water deliveries as a precaution, but no time frame for this has been given. Traffic management has been installed at Dudley Road car park in Ventnor and at Amazon World car park near Newchurch as Southern Water prepare for the need to activate drive-in water distribution points, but neither site has been stood up as of yet.
We're working on bringing you all the latest updates on this breaking news story.
Refresh this page or check back later for updates...
Do you have information, photos or video relating to this incident? Email [email protected]
