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Water failure shuts north schools Water problem easing says company
(about 5 hours later)
A major water treatment pumps failure has brought disruption to schools in the Inverness area. The effects of a major water supply failure which hit homes and schools in the Inverness area are abating, Scottish Water has said.
Engineers are restoring supplies to thousands of homes which were cut off after pumps drawing water into the city's treatment works broke down. Engineers have restored supplies to most of the 37,000 customers cut off after pumps drawing water into the city's treatment works broke down.
Scottish Water suspects an electrical fault caused the failure. The problem has been fixed. The utility firm suspects an electrical fault caused the failure.
Highland Council said 32 schools in the affected area did not open because of the situation. Highland Council said 33 schools in the affected area did not open because of the situation.
Scottish Water staff have been working through the night to return supplies to 37,000 customers around Inverness, Nairn and North Kessock. Scottish Water staff worked through the night and into Monday to return supplies to homes and businesses around Inverness, Nairn and North Kessock.
Sheila Campbell-Lloyd, from Scottish Water, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that the pumps which draw water to feed the Inverness area failed late on Sunday night. Sheila Campbell-Lloyd, from Scottish Water, told BBC Scotland that pumps which draw water to feed the Inverness area failed late on Sunday night.
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES InvernessCullodenSmithtonBallochNairnAldearnNorth Kessock Still affected are higher lying properties near Croy, Cawdor and Nairn.
She said: "I would like to thank our customers for bearing with us during this unusual problem. Ms Campbell-Lloyd said: "I would like to thank our customers for bearing with us during this unusual problem.
"Many will have noticed little if any problem, but others may well be out of supply until later today."Many will have noticed little if any problem, but others may well be out of supply until later today.
"Local teams are tankering water to fill our storage tanks as quickly as possible, but we cannot force the water through - we must give it time for the pressure to build and water to reach the more rural areas.""Local teams are tankering water to fill our storage tanks as quickly as possible, but we cannot force the water through - we must give it time for the pressure to build and water to reach the more rural areas."
A Highland Council spokesman said the problems would have ramifications for other services too.
Ms Campbell-Lloyd said emergency water supplies were being delivered to key customers and it was critical that Raigmore Hospital was kept supplied.
It is also planned to deploy bowsers in the area.
Inverness Provost Bill Smith described the matter as serious and had caused significant disruption to schools.Inverness Provost Bill Smith described the matter as serious and had caused significant disruption to schools.
He said: "Schools have closed and this causes difficulties not just to pupils and staff but also parents.He said: "Schools have closed and this causes difficulties not just to pupils and staff but also parents.
"It seems to me there is a really simple solution and that is back up pumps being in place.""It seems to me there is a really simple solution and that is back up pumps being in place."