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| Freeze hits valley's water supply | Freeze hits valley's water supply |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The water supply to around 6,000 homes and businesses in south Wales continues to be hit by freezing conditions which have brought problems across Wales. | The water supply to around 6,000 homes and businesses in south Wales continues to be hit by freezing conditions which have brought problems across Wales. |
| Welsh Water said it hoped to improve supplies in one of the Rhondda valleys, with water bowsers sent to streets and water tankers refilling supplies. | Welsh Water said it hoped to improve supplies in one of the Rhondda valleys, with water bowsers sent to streets and water tankers refilling supplies. |
| It added two of the 24 bowsers had been stolen and another three vandalised. | It added two of the 24 bowsers had been stolen and another three vandalised. |
| Frozen pipes to a local water treatment works had caused the problems, including intermittent loss of supply. | Frozen pipes to a local water treatment works had caused the problems, including intermittent loss of supply. |
| SCHOOL CLOSURES FOR 7 JANUARY Carmarthenshire: Ysgol Bro Banw; Ysgol Gynradd Cross Hands; Ysgol Feithrin; Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman Ceredigion: Lampeter ComprehensiveConwy: Ysgol Gynradd Betws y CoedDenbighshire: St Brigid's School, Denbigh; Ysgol Borthyn, Ruthin; Ysgol Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd; Ysgol Rhewl, near RuthinMerthyr Tydfil: Ysgol Gynradd Rhyd y GrugVale of Glamorgan: Jenner Park primary, BarryRhondda Cynon Taff: Aberllechau primary; Ferndale Community School; Pontygwaith primary; Ynyshir junior and infants; Cwmclydach Primary School, Clydach Vale | |
| Welsh Water blamed freezing conditions for causing problems between Porth and Maerdy on Tuesday. | Welsh Water blamed freezing conditions for causing problems between Porth and Maerdy on Tuesday. |
| Supplies were "severely restricted" to Maerdy water treatment works, because of frozen pipes. | Supplies were "severely restricted" to Maerdy water treatment works, because of frozen pipes. |
| The company said it had been working round the clock to deal with the problem. | The company said it had been working round the clock to deal with the problem. |
| "We will continue deploying water bowsers to key locations, providing water which needs to be boiled before drinking or food preparation," said a spokesman. | "We will continue deploying water bowsers to key locations, providing water which needs to be boiled before drinking or food preparation," said a spokesman. |
| "We are also making bottled water available to customers with special needs and mothers with young babies." | "We are also making bottled water available to customers with special needs and mothers with young babies." |
| The company said despite some bowsers being stolen and vandalised, it was sending out a further 24 and doing "everything they can" to fill up as regularly as possible. | The company said despite some bowsers being stolen and vandalised, it was sending out a further 24 and doing "everything they can" to fill up as regularly as possible. |
| "Most people have been patient but there have been some incidents of misuse of bowsers where people have not used the tap to fill bottles but have removed the plug, allowing a lot of water to go to waste," said the spokesman. | "Most people have been patient but there have been some incidents of misuse of bowsers where people have not used the tap to fill bottles but have removed the plug, allowing a lot of water to go to waste," said the spokesman. |
| Frozen pipes affected supplies to the Maerdy water treatment works | Frozen pipes affected supplies to the Maerdy water treatment works |
| He added that the water supply was still fit to drink. | He added that the water supply was still fit to drink. |
| Extra equipment was installed there overnight but the company remained "cautious" as the freezing weather continued. | Extra equipment was installed there overnight but the company remained "cautious" as the freezing weather continued. |
| He said: "As we carry out repair work, customers may experience intermittent loss of water supply and discoloured water. We are tankering water into the area to minimise the impact to customers. | He said: "As we carry out repair work, customers may experience intermittent loss of water supply and discoloured water. We are tankering water into the area to minimise the impact to customers. |
| "We are cautiously optimistic that the water supply to our customers will improve gradually during the course of the day." | "We are cautiously optimistic that the water supply to our customers will improve gradually during the course of the day." |
| Rhondda assembly member Leighton Andrews met Welsh Water managers and residents and businesses affected in Maerdy and Ferndale this morning. | Rhondda assembly member Leighton Andrews met Welsh Water managers and residents and businesses affected in Maerdy and Ferndale this morning. |
| One local factory had been left without water needed for water-cooling processes. | One local factory had been left without water needed for water-cooling processes. |
| "It is also important the water bowsers are re-filled as some have now run out," he said. | "It is also important the water bowsers are re-filled as some have now run out," he said. |
| "Obviously a lot of activity has been going on since last night, and Welsh Water tell me they are hopeful that people should see things improving during the day. | "Obviously a lot of activity has been going on since last night, and Welsh Water tell me they are hopeful that people should see things improving during the day. |
| "They say the situation they are facing is virtually unprecedented. I have discussed with them what might be done if similar circumstances arise in future.' | "They say the situation they are facing is virtually unprecedented. I have discussed with them what might be done if similar circumstances arise in future.' |
| The weather has led to hospitals reporting a rise in patients with ice-related injuries, prompting one accident and emergency consultant to urge elderly people to stay inside during below freezing temperatures. | The weather has led to hospitals reporting a rise in patients with ice-related injuries, prompting one accident and emergency consultant to urge elderly people to stay inside during below freezing temperatures. |
| Mike McCabe at Morriston Hospital in Swansea said his department had again been extremely busy on Tuesday, following another 106 cases of fall injuries on Monday. | Mike McCabe at Morriston Hospital in Swansea said his department had again been extremely busy on Tuesday, following another 106 cases of fall injuries on Monday. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI will not be going out until it gets warmer or the ice melts Dee Dee, Rhyl Send us your comments and pictures | HAVE YOUR SAYI will not be going out until it gets warmer or the ice melts Dee Dee, Rhyl Send us your comments and pictures |
| Thirty patients had fractures and trauma injuries which needed them to be admitted on Monday - an unprecedented number in a single day. | Thirty patients had fractures and trauma injuries which needed them to be admitted on Monday - an unprecedented number in a single day. |
| Mr McCabe said: "The clear message for elderly people is to stay indoors. | Mr McCabe said: "The clear message for elderly people is to stay indoors. |
| "Don't go outside to put the rubbish out, don't go out to put the cat out, don't go to the shop to buy a newspaper - instead get a fit and healthy relative or friend to run any errands for you." | "Don't go outside to put the rubbish out, don't go out to put the cat out, don't go to the shop to buy a newspaper - instead get a fit and healthy relative or friend to run any errands for you." |
| BBC Wales meteorologist Derek Brockway said he expected the week would not get any colder than the low temperatures felt on Tuesday. | BBC Wales meteorologist Derek Brockway said he expected the week would not get any colder than the low temperatures felt on Tuesday. |
| He said: "It's a bit of a change today in the weather - it's going to be less cloudy and there could be a little sleet in places - just enough to give a dusting here and there. | He said: "It's a bit of a change today in the weather - it's going to be less cloudy and there could be a little sleet in places - just enough to give a dusting here and there. |
| "The outlook for the next few days is dry - still some frost around, and a risk of fog. | "The outlook for the next few days is dry - still some frost around, and a risk of fog. |
| Pensioners | Pensioners |
| "It'll stay on the cold side into the start of the weekend. | "It'll stay on the cold side into the start of the weekend. |
| The only weather station in Wales not to record extreme cold temperatures was at Valley, on Anglesey. | The only weather station in Wales not to record extreme cold temperatures was at Valley, on Anglesey. |
| Pensioners and vulnerable people in affected areas will now be eligible for an £25-a-week assistance. | Pensioners and vulnerable people in affected areas will now be eligible for an £25-a-week assistance. |
| About 15 schools remained closed in parts of north, west and south Wales. | About 15 schools remained closed in parts of north, west and south Wales. |
| In Denbighshire, a primary school forced to close after its heating oil was stolen remained closed on Wednesday. | In Denbighshire, a primary school forced to close after its heating oil was stolen remained closed on Wednesday. |
| The fuel was taken from an oil tank outside the 50-pupil primary school Ysgol Rhewl near Ruthin sometime over the Christmas and new year period but was only discovered on Monday. | The fuel was taken from an oil tank outside the 50-pupil primary school Ysgol Rhewl near Ruthin sometime over the Christmas and new year period but was only discovered on Monday. |
| Anyone in the Rhondda experiencing persistent problems with their water supply should contact Welsh Water on 0800 052 0130. | Anyone in the Rhondda experiencing persistent problems with their water supply should contact Welsh Water on 0800 052 0130. |