A feared loss of water to thousands of homes on the Isle of Wight has begun, with properties in the Ventnor area without a fresh water supply tonight (Saturday).
It was on Wednesday afternoon that Island Echo reported some 30,000 properties across the Island could be left without water due to the network buckling under the pressure of heavy downpours earlier in the day.
It was detailed that 11,000 addresses in the South Wight would be initially hit, with 20,000 additional properties at risk moving forward. However, by Thursday morning Southern Water seemed to have a hold of the situation and said there was no immediate risk of a loss of supply.
Despite Southern Water’s efforts to keep the taps flowing, which has included bringing 20 water tankers over from the mainland, it has been confirmed that properties in Ventnor are now experiencing a loss of supply – or low pressure – due to heavy rain and flooding overwhelming local sites.
Bottled water has been distributed in the area in recent days and it is understood a collection point has been established at Central Car Park, but some locals say they are unable to access water at all tonight.
A spokesperson for Southern Water has said that the utility company is working 24/7 to get supplies back ‘soon’. But it remains unclear how long water will be unavailable for and whether further properties will be effected.
If you or anyone you know needs to join the Priority Services Register, call 0330 303 0368.
Don’t worry folks. It’ll all be restored in time for the next hosepipe ban.
Best get a couple of new trash housing estates built.
But it remains unclear how long water will be unavailable. NO but I bet they’re dumping plenty of sewage in the sea so what was the point of them bulding the big storm tanks like the ones in appley Sandown and Ventnor to take the strom water so I don’t have to dump sewage in our seas
I don’t wish to sound overly negative but how does heavy rainfall affect our water supply? As I understand it, the rain is collected in various places, Lakes, reservoirs and including the tank on the downs etc.. Too much rain would surely just overflow as usual and run off. IF we have too much water, how does this affect the supply? Is it not isolated to prevent this happening? I understand the drains are overflowing, but Southern Water usually just chuck everything into the sea and care nothing for their customers so why are they cutting off supplies?
They did issue a few water butts which are slow release as a cheap PR foolish exercise which many gullible’greens’ stupidly accepted. Despite them , like other storage tanks, being filled within minutes and then of course useless.
Still makes the very young and dim feel like they are saving the planet
Absolutely. Southern Water could issue ‘Climate Friendly Kool Aid’ and it would be grabbed up by the climate cultists.
Why does IW Council Planning continue to turn a blind eye to people paving over their gardens to make hard-standings?
The tanks you refer to are reservoirs, not catchments. Water is pumped up to them from catchment and treatment lower down.
I was asking myself exactly the same question. Perhaps someone with the required knowledge can explain this to me and I’m sure many others.
There are reasons why heavy rain can affect drinking water treatment but it seems odd that this is only affecting Ventnor. Southern Water need to give a proper explanation. Don’t forget they got fined £65 for supplying filthy water to Wroxall and Ventnor a few years ago and they still haven’t repaired the leaky service reservoir. Something fishy is going on. I hope everyone makes sure that they get £20 compensation per day for poor or no water supply, which is a legal obligation on SW.
Another victim of corrupt Britain. When the PM can give his wife a tip off about some changes in legistation which she then makes billions from and no one bats an eyelid. What chance do we have.
What are the Isle of Wight counsellors doing about it all? The leader of the Isle of Wight council is not elected he lives in England somewhere and spends his time sniffing cocaine off a brief case. Why should he be paid more than the Prime Minister? It’s all a con.
This ‘bottled water’ is tap water. No wonder no one is collecting it.
The only bottle most will open is if it over 14% proof