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More problems for water customers More problems for water customers
(about 6 hours later)
Hundreds of homes in south Wales have lost their water supply, only hours after 5,000 homes and businesses were reconnected after a frozen pipe broke.Hundreds of homes in south Wales have lost their water supply, only hours after 5,000 homes and businesses were reconnected after a frozen pipe broke.
Welsh Water said 600 homes in the Trehafod area of Rhondda were now affected by a burst main on Thursday. Around 600 homes in the Trehafod area of Rhondda were affected after three mains burst on Thursday.
Supplies between nearby Porth and the village of Maerdy were only restored on Wednesday night after 48 hours. Two primary schools and a road in the village closed as repairs began, with bottled water taken to residents.
Only resident described the latest problem as a "nuisance" while the water firm issued an apology. Parts of Rhondda Fach were hit for a third day after further problems at a treatment works.
Brian Jones from Trehafod said the burst main was a "nuisance coming so soon after the last outbreak". Villages affected included Maerdy, Wattstown, Ferndale, Blaenllechau, Tylorstown and Ynyshir.
He said his water supply had been off most of the morning. He also said he had seen school children who attend Hafod Primary coming home early. Supplies to 6,000 homes between nearby Porth and the village of Maerdy were only restored on Wednesday night after 48 hours.
It is clear that the pipes are old and not fit for purpose Leighton Andrews AM One Trehafod resident described the latest problem as a "nuisance" while another said she had rung the firm a number of times.
In a statement Welsh Water apologised for the fresh disruption and said supplies were expected to be back in Trehafod by early afternoon. Brian Jones said the burst main was a "nuisance coming so soon after the last outbreak".
The statement said: "Some customers may experience low pressure or water discolouration as supplies return to normal. Heather Owens said: "They cannot guarantee we will have water tonight and that because we are an isolated case there is nothing they can do."
'Loudspeakers' Trehopcyn and Hafod primary schools sent pupils home for the day after the supply was cut.
"Customers who experience water discoloration at times like this are advised to run the tap for a short period until water runs clear. Welsh Water apologised for the fresh disruption. A statement said: "We were alerted to a burst water main in Trehafod Road, Trehafod this morning, which affected supplies to approximately 600 properties.
"This is quite normal however if people have any concern about their supply they can call our operations helpline on 0800 052 0130." "We immediately dispatched a team who carried out the necessary repair work.
Meanwhile, Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews has called on Welsh Water to speed up investment at a water treatment centre after thousands in the area lost supply. "Unfortunately a further burst has occurred along the same main, which means customers are still affected."
Bowsers had to be used to distribute water in the Rhondda Fach for two days after freezing weather damaged pipes at at Maerdy treatment works. The statement said the new bursts were unrelated to the damaged pipe into Maerdy treatment works which saw some 6,000 properties without a supply.
The AM also said constituents should have been given more information on the first day of the disruption.. However, a spokeswoman added: "The likelihood is that thawing out, following very low temperatures, could have caused the bursts in Trehafod."
Nine local schools closed and one factory was left without water needed for water-cooling processes.. There was a further problem at the Maerdy treatment works on Thursday
The firm sent in around four dozen bowsers for people to fill their own containers with fresh water. Two bowsers were reported stolen and three more were vandalised. The company later said there had been a fresh problem at the treatment works on Thursday, which required remedial work.
Mr Andrews, in a letter to Welsh Water's managing director said they needed "to accelerate your investment in the infrastructure, including pipes, supporting the Maerdy treatment centre. However, water levels at the reservoir feeding the area dropped until the repair at lunchtime.
"It is clear that the pipes are old and not fit for purpose," he said adding that he hoped that planned investments in the infrastructure supporting the works could now be accelerated. "We have been refilling the service reservoir, and while this takes place some customers may experience low pressure or interruption to their supply," said the spokesman.
The AM said his constituents told him that they would have found it helpful if they had been alerted earlier on Tuesday about the water disruption. Rhondda MP Chris Bryant said he had written to Welsh Water calling for an urgent review of water in the Rhondda Fach and the Fawr.
People would have also found it helpful if the message had been spread on mobile loudspeakers touring affected areas, as well as through the conventional media, he said. He said: "It seems a mighty coincidence that two parts of the same area happen to have experienced burst pipes.
Welsh Water said they would not comment until they received Mr Andrews' letter. "I think it's also crucial that Welsh Water gets information to people affected in Trehafod as soon as possible. Not tomorrow but now.
"I know staff at Welsh Water have been working through the past nights to get things fixed, but there's no reason why people shouldn't get up-to-date information."
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's cabinet member for transportation and customer care, Councillor Andrew Morgan said: "It is hoped that properties affected by the burst mains will have their water supply returned by later today.
"Work is continuing on Trehafod Road and we all envisage this will be open again for motorists by later this evening."
Welsh Water said customers with special needs or mothers with young babies who are affected by this interruption will be supplied with bottled water on request, by contacting freephone 0800 052 0130. Customers who are deaf or hard of hearing and have the use of a textphone/Minicom, can call 0800 052 4125.