Southern Water workers carrying out vital maintenance are experiencing abuse from members of public unaware these key workers are keeping water and wastewater assets and networks running.
On the Isle of Wight, Southern Water workers have been continuing to support residents by finding and fixing leaks both on the water mains and sewer network; work that safeguards supply and services. They have also continued responding to water quality complaints often requiring access to premises to enable repairs.
All non-essential works and home visits were stopped early in the crisis – including visits to care homes, medical facilities and schools, in a bid to ensure that their COVID-19 preparations and management are not disrupted.
In addition, staff have of course also continued to maintain water supply works to ensure water quality and security of supply along with required maintenance at pumping stations and treatment works to protect the environment. The above key workers are simply unable to work from home and provide the area with crucial services.
Southern Water’s Head of Wastewater Collection, Peter Stakim has said that these incidents have been isolated but has urged the public to show restraint.
“Our teams have always had to put up with a few cases of unfair and unacceptable behaviour – often from impatient motorists but there are reports from workers who feel the public don’t understand why they out and working. These are key workers keeping taps flowing and toilets flushing.
“We’d like to thank the vast majority of customers who are polite and keeping social distance and plead for the tiny minority to follow their example.
“We want to tell you, in line with government advice on COVID-19, we’re doing everything we can to protect our employees and customers, while making sure that we continue to supply you with water and wastewater services. Our ways of working have already changed, and there may be further changes to come, but our mission remains the same – to keep our employees and customers safe and our services running”.
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For further details about how Southern Water is maintaining our services during the COVID-19 outbreak visit https://www.southernwater.co.uk/covid-19.
Some people are so thick
The ignorance of some people just defies explanation!
they wants tu half the bills for folk now, all this hand washin, washin yer vest an pants ever week weather they needs it or not, costin folks more cash.
cut the bills and then folk be more kindly I spects.
What is the matter with some people ? They think it’s normal to abuse whoever they want , when they want . They are ignorant tossers , lowlife scum , just not normal decent human beings
They’d be first to complain if they had no water, we still need other workers inc tradesmen , things don’t stop breaking under lockdown or are you just going to let water pour out of a burst pipe I think not !
Turn the water/gas/electric off them watch whingers moan
Cut off the water supplies to the ones hurling the abuse, see how much mouth they have then. These workers are keeping your water flowing you bloody numbskulls.
These people that are abusing southern water workers should be a shamed of themselves…. they will soon bloody moan when they don’t have any water and will want somebody to come and sort it…they won’t mind them working then
They would soon moan if they had no water to make a cup of tea or to flush the toilet what is wrong with some people makes you feel like going and turning there water off lol