McIlveen - ‘Beat the Freeze, whatever the weather’
16 November 2015 10:08
The message calls on the public to check that homes and businesses are prepared for the cold weather conditions.
Michelle McIlveen said: “Everyone has a role to play in preparing for winter. While NI Water works to ensure our water network is ready for the winter weather, home and business owners especially should now be taking their own steps to ‘Beat the Freeze.’
“This message is particularly important for those who have moved house or business premises recently and may be making arrangements for the first time.”
The ‘Beat the Freeze’ advertising campaign is being rolled out through various media outlets including TV, radio, print and billboards.
The Minister continued: “The advice is simple, act now, take some time today to ensure that water pipes are protected and well insulated. Just a few simple steps could save you from the distress, cost and inconvenience of a burst pipe.”
Chief Executive of NI Water, Sara Venning, commented:
“There are simple procedures the general public can carry out in order to ‘Beat the Freeze’. These include knowing where your stop valve is and keeping the contact number of a registered plumber on hand to deal with any bursts on your property.
“The devastation caused by burst pipes cannot be underestimated. Not only can the water cause structural damage to a property, but the lasting damage in
a home can be to personal items, including photographs and electrical equipment such as tablets, iPads and laptops, that may not be replaceable.
“On a wider scale, if you imagine the impact of thousands of litres of water pouring out of burst water pipes; any water distribution network would struggle to maintain continuity of supply in those circumstances. Insulating your pipework is an essential action to protect your water supply and that of your neighbours.”
The launch was supported by representatives from a number of organisations, including CCNI, UFU, NIRTA.