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| Freeze hits valley's water supply | Freeze hits valley's water supply |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The water supply to around 6,000 homes and businesses in south Wales continues to be hit after freezing weather damaged pipes to a treatment works. | The water supply to around 6,000 homes and businesses in south Wales continues to be hit after freezing weather damaged pipes to a treatment works. |
| But Welsh Water said it hopes the water supplies in the Rhondda Fach valley will return to normal by late evening. | |
| Water bowsers have been sent to streets with water tankers refilling supplies since problems started on Tuesday. | |
| The firm said water treatment works in the area was now operating normally after a frozen pipe was repaired. | |
| In a statement, it said: "Water supplies to all customers will now begin to return to normal however some may notice temporary disruptions during this evening's peak demand period. | |
| "We anticipate however that all supplies will have returned by late this evening. | |
| "We will continue to tanker water to the works and to deploy water bowsers to key locations, providing water which needs to be boiled before drinking or food preparation. | |
| "We are also making bottled water available to customers with special needs and mothers with young babies." | |
| 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, which also led to nine local schools being closed. | The company said it had been working round the clock to deal with the problem, which also led to nine local schools being closed. |
| Two of the 24 bowsers had been stolen and another three vandalised but the company said despite this, it was sending out a further 24 and doing "everything they can" to fill up as regularly as possible. | |
| Local people spoke of the difficulties | Local people spoke of the difficulties |
| "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. |
| He added that the water supply was still fit to drink. | He added that the water supply was still fit to drink. |
| "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. | |
| 'Freezes immediately' | 'Freezes immediately' |
| 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," said Mr Andrews. | "It is also important the water bowsers are re-filled as some have now run out," said Mr Andrews. |
| "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." |
| Mir, living in Maerdy, said: "Residents in our particular village have no option but to brave the frozen conditions to reach a water bowser at the bottom of the hill. | Mir, living in Maerdy, said: "Residents in our particular village have no option but to brave the frozen conditions to reach a water bowser at the bottom of the hill. |
| "There are a lot of hills so you have to go down and back up to get water. Water is pouring out from the streets and it freezes immediately, so the roads are icy and people are flopping. | "There are a lot of hills so you have to go down and back up to get water. Water is pouring out from the streets and it freezes immediately, so the roads are icy and people are flopping. |
| 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 and infants; Darran Park Primary; YGG Llyn y Forwyn; Tylorstown Primary; Pontygwaith primary; Ynyshir junior and infants; Cwmclydach Primary School, Clydach Vale | 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 and infants; Darran Park Primary; YGG Llyn y Forwyn; Tylorstown Primary; Pontygwaith primary; Ynyshir junior and infants; Cwmclydach Primary School, Clydach Vale |
| "I am pregnant so cannot go out onto the icy roads and get to the water bowser." | "I am pregnant so cannot go out onto the icy roads and get to the water bowser." |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said it had assurances that all schools would reopen on Thursday. | Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said it had assurances that all schools would reopen on Thursday. |
| 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. |
| 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 the cold weather was gradually easing its grip, with temperatures for the next few days and nights not as low as recently. | BBC Wales meteorologist Derek Brockway said the cold weather was gradually easing its grip, with temperatures for the next few days and nights not as low as recently. |
| He said: "Because there is more cloud, there is less cold air. This evening any rain will die away leaving a dry night with a slight to moderate frost." | He said: "Because there is more cloud, there is less cold air. This evening any rain will die away leaving a dry night with a slight to moderate frost." |
| 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. |
| More than 20 schools were closed again in parts of north, west and south Wales on Wednesday. | More than 20 schools were closed again in parts of north, west and south Wales on Wednesday. |
| In Denbighshire, a primary school forced to close after its heating oil was stolen will remain closed until next Monday. | In Denbighshire, a primary school forced to close after its heating oil was stolen will remain closed until next 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. | 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. |
| Other affected schools in the county will reopen on Thursday. | Other affected schools in the county will reopen on Thursday. |
| 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. |