Southern Water says that everyone on the Isle of Wight should now have water following the supply issues of the weekend – but those who were affected in the South Wight have expressed their anger at the utility company.
As previously reported, it was announced on Saturday morning that some 4,600 properties were likely to experience a complete loss of supply or low pressure due to ongoing issues at the Testwood Water Supply Works on the mainland. Ventnor, St Lawrence, Whitwell and Niton were sacrificed to keep the rest of the Island’s taps running. But despite Southern Water stating that all affected properties in the Ventnor area would be given bottled water, social media commentators said this simply didn’t happen. Some bottled water was distributed during the early hours of Saturday and throughout the day by a Coventry-baed company called Kanan Ltd. but local residents say the distribution only seemed to be to Priority Services Register customers – and even then some of those on the PSR still didn’t receive their ‘courtesy water’. 
Bottled water distribution points primed at Dudley Road Car Park in Ventnor and Amazon World in Newchurch were not opened up either, leaving some to say that the South Wight was simply forgotten – especially when on the mainland they had multiple distribution points set up. Sonja, from Ventnor, has said:
“Whilst I am sympathetic to the exceptional circumstances Southern Water faced, the lack of information was incredibly frustrating. “Personally I had no water from 1pm Saturday until 7am Sunday, no water was delivered to my house or even our street including invulnerable neighbours. I couldn’t find information about where to collect water AND despite registering last week for text alerts, I didn’t receive anything. “The very least I expected was clear information on their website about the issue and where to collect water.
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Sally, from Whitwell, has said:
“We had no water supply again from yesterday evening until about 8am this morning [Sunday]. “We are in the impacted area but received no bottled water nor information about how to get any. Southern Water let us down. They delivered to those registered with them as vulnerable, pensioners or with children under 5 but no other customers.
Southern Water has issued reassurance that another loss of supply is not happening and that everyone is and should remain back in supply. Anyone without water is told to call 0330 303 0368. Residents are being told that after a water outage, it is normal to experience some low pressure, discolouration and other changes to your water. This is temporary. Editor’s Footnote: The lack of communication around such serious matters is something that Island Echo has been raising for a number of years, since the last water crisis back in March 2018. Sadly, there has been little or no improvement in the past 5 years. There is a lot of secrecy around these issues until the point where they simply have to say something, but even then the communication is poor – a view shared by others I know.
