Thousands in west Devon remain affected after burst water pipe

Thousands in west Devon remain affected after burst water pipe

Thousands of Devon households that were impacted by a burst water main will be receiving £200 in compensation, as confirmed by South West Water (SWW). The sum will be credited to the accounts of affected household customers, while businesses will receive customized compensation packages, according to Plymouth MP Fred Thomas. The incident left about 13,000 properties in Plymouth and Tavistock without water after the pipe burst on Sunday. Although 9,500 properties were still without water on Tuesday, SWW’s managing director for water services, David Harris, expressed the goal of having everyone back on water by the following morning.

The process of restoring water supplies to affected customers in Tavistock, Bere Alston, and Yelverton is being carefully managed by water company teams. Due to the complexity of the large system, it requires proper and safe refilling before full supply can be restored, as explained by a spokesperson for the water company. Some establishments such as Horrabridge Primary and Nursery School and Whitchurch Community Primary School had to close due to the water shortage, causing disruptions in their operations. Furthermore, Plymouth Marjon University also remained closed, with uncertainties remaining about when normal operations would resume.

In efforts to address the disruptions caused by the burst water main, SWW CEO Susan Davy assured Plymouth MP Fred Thomas that water service would be fully restored by the next morning. Alongside this, affected household customers are slated to receive a £200 credit to their accounts, while businesses can expect tailored compensation packages. Fred Thomas emphasized the need for clearer communication and more efficient solutions from SWW to address the ongoing issues faced by residents and businesses. Additionally, John Blanchard, a resident in the Woolwell area of Plymouth, expressed frustration over the lack of running water despite repeated assurances from SWW.

Sir Geoffrey Cox, MP for Tavistock, highlighted the necessity of setting up adequate water stations and ensuring vulnerable residents have access to bottled water. SWW reiterated its commitment to supporting vulnerable customers throughout the incident and maintained open bottled water stations for those in need while the system refills. Despite the challenges posed by refilling hundreds of miles of pipes, SWW’s teams continue to work tirelessly to restore water access to affected properties as swiftly as possible. The company acknowledged the impact on local schools and parents due to the disruptions and emphasized its efforts to rectify the situation responsibly

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