Good Day Wednesfield North – This morning I spoke again with Severn Trent Water Company. I asked them if they were in a better position than they had been over the previous four nights. I was informed that there were still problems of supplying water to areas of high elevation. I asked them if the City of Wolverhampton and Wednesfield was the only areas that were suffering.
The Company explained that over the period we were talking about some 32,000 homes were suffering low pressure and water failures. Homes as far away as the east Midlands were also being subjected to the situation.
I was informed that last night (Monday) was less traumatic than the previous nights. There had been people without supply or very low pressure. They were totalled around 50 homes in and around my Ward of Wednesfield North and further.
Severn Trent were hoping that the cooler weather would interrupt the continued high demand for treated water. Severn Trent Water continued to re-assure that they have plenty of water, and that the system has been working 40% higher than their previous record demands.
I took the opportunity again to suggest that their communications were mixed. That there had been no clear messages. With bits of Severn Trent blaming kit failures, and the corporate Severn Trent blaming High Demand with customers using water for Paddling Pools etc.
So finally I left it there, Severn Trent are delivering bottle water supply to residents that have registered with them as being vulnerable. They continue to impress on me that they are working ‘Flat Out’ to deliver water to all their customers. So I agreed to again pass this message on. Your Wednesfield Councillors have done our best in what has been very difficult circumstances.
I am sorry if I and my colleagues haven’t been able to sort everything. But we have put huge pressure on Severn Trent and we will continue to do so…..
This is again Severn Trent Water messages to you-
• Our supplies of raw water are sufficient – our reservoirs are around 85 per cent full. The problem is getting water treated and pumped quickly enough.
• We are treating and pumping more water into our network than any time in our history, over 2,000 million litres a day. We are fortunate to benefit from the billions of pounds that have been invested in recent years to strengthen supplies and reduce leakage (which is now at its lowest level for 20 years, despite a growing network). Our workforce is doing a fantastic job whilst still maintaining social distancing.
• The challenge is that demand has risen by on average 20 per cent and in some areas by as much as 40 per cent. May has been one of the warmest, driest on record and more people are at home because of the C19 emergency.
• When demand outstrips supply many people suffer from low pressure or, in some cases, lose supplies – usually during the evening peak.
• Our message to the public is: Please do not use hosepipes, sprinklers or refill children’s paddling pools to ensure there’s enough water for everyone to use, especially at this time of national need.
We are grateful for everyone’s help and support.
