Ongoing Water Supply Disruption Issues

19 January 2015 13:21

NI Water can report an improving situation in relation to the interruption to water supply customers are facing due to ongoing industrial action. The number of properties currently off supply is approximately 4,500. All customers in the Draperstown and Pomeroy areas who have suffered disruptions to their water supply in recent days should now be back on supply.  
All Water Treatment Works have been brought back into service, however it may take time for the system to recharge and customer supplies to be restored to normal. Airlocks may also cause some difficulties in the system this will impact on restoration times in a small number of cases.

NI Water has received approximately 200 no water calls since midnight.  

Areas that may be affected include:

West Tyrone/Fermanagh - Ederney, Kesh, Lack, Castlederg, Killen, Killeter, Spamount, Irvinestown, Dromore (Tyrone), Drumquin, Omagh (rural) and Trillick,
Omagh - Greencastle, Mountfield, Sixmilecross, Carrickmore, Glenhull, Loughmacrory, Rousky, Beragh, Garvaghy, Eskragh and Seskinore,
L/Derry - Claudy, Dungiven, Feeny, Gortnahey, Park.

NI Water is working to minimise disruption to customers’ supplies and where appropriate will be providing alternative supplies. The location of the alternative water supplies (water from plastic tanks) will be available via the postcode search on niwater.com or by contacting us on 08457 440088. Customers will need to bring their own containers to collect water from the tanks. Customers should boil the water before use.   
NI Water fully recognises this is a frustrating experience for our customers, and can assure them we are doing everything possible to restore water supplies. NI Water would like to once again thank our customers for their continued patience whilst this problem is being resolved.
We appeal to customers to use water wisely and help conserve the remaining water supplies.

NI Water has mobilised all resources at its disposal to deal with this latest incident, however, due to the limited resources available to us, as a result of industrial action, our response has been restricted.

Unfortunately though, with 26,000kms of watermains, 15,000kms of sewers and literally thousands of pumping stations and treatment works to monitor, it was virtually inevitable there will be interruptions to services to our customers.
 
NI Water remains on high alert with a Major Incident regime in place and we are committed to continued engagement with Trade Unions in an effort to resolve this dispute. The company would stress once more the key demand that pension reform be delayed is not within its gift to provide. It believes dialogue rather than causing disruption represents the best way forward.
 
Customers can visit niwater.com for further advice and updates or call our contact centre on 08457 440088.