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Fears for vulnerable as thousands without water for days Thousands face two-day wait for water as pipe fixed
(about 4 hours later)
Welsh Water has announced a compensation package for those who have lost water BBC Wales' Jennifer Jones has been reporting from a water supply centre near the burst water pipe
Schools have been forced to close for a second day while repair work continues to restore water to about 8,000 homes after a main pipe burst at a treatment plant. Thousands of homes are set to be without water for another two days, despite a burst water pipe that caused widespread disruption being fixed.
Nearly 40 schools and education centres in Conwy have announced they will remain shut on Friday, following the incident at Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works in Dolgarrog, Conwy on Wednesday night. Welsh Water said the pipe, in Dolgarrog, Conwy county, which split on Wednesday, had been repaired but water would not be fully restored for "up to 48 hours".
As many as 40,000 homes are thought to be without water as a result of the burst pipe, which closed more than 20 schools and a number of businesses on Thursday. An estimated 40,000 homes are thought to be without water, while schools and businesses have also been heavily affected.
Water supply was expected to be restored on Thursday, but on Friday morning Welsh Water said it could take a further 48 hours, even once the main is repaired. Gareth Evans from Welsh Water said the problem was caused by rocks pressing on the pipe.
Care home manager, Steffan Robbins, said he is really concerned about the risk of infection with no water, meaning residents and staff can't wash their hands. He said what appeared to be "movement within the river bed" caused one or more rocks to "press against the pipeline", causing an initial small hole, leading to a larger leak then "catastrophic failure of one of the couplings which connect the pipeworks together".
He said that residents at the Orme View Care Home in Llandudno were having to eat off paper plates and use wooden cutlery. Track how your area is affected here, external
"We have no flushing toilets, no hand washing facilities," he added. Addressing concerns the pipe might fail again as the pressure increased, he said: "We have comprehensively repaired at this location, it's been fully-flow tested and pressure tested in the last few hours."
Mr Robbins said the home has now had 24 hours without water, and despite receiving 200 litres of water from Welsh Water on Thursday, they were down to 70 litres on Friday afternoon In a statement on Friday afternoon, Welsh Water said it could be 48 hours before water is fully restored to all areas affected as the pipe was a high-pressure water main that had to be refilled "very carefully to avoid further bursts".
He said that the 14 residents were struggling with not being able to have showers and baths. The network is almost 900km (560 miles) long and includes 13 underground storage tanks, the largest of which is the size of nine Olympic-size swimming pools.
The company said the water would come back on at different times for different people and that "discoloured water" was normal after a supply interruption and was usually temporary.
Concerns have been raised about the impact the incident is having on the vulnerable and the elderly.
Steffan Robbins, who runs Orme View Care Home in Llandudno, said he was concerned about the risk of infection caused by having no water, meaning residents and staff cannot wash their hands.
He said residents had to eat off paper plates and use wooden cutlery.
Mr Robbins said the home had now gone 24 hours without water and, despite getting 200 litres of water from Welsh Water on Thursday, they were down to 70 litres by Friday afternoon
He said the 14 residents were struggling with not being able to have showers or baths.
"Luckily we have hand wipes for meal times, but we are having to use them for toilets as well," he said."Luckily we have hand wipes for meal times, but we are having to use them for toilets as well," he said.
"I understand there is limited resources, but we are a 24 hour service, just bottled water is not enough," added Mr Robbins. "I understand there is limited resources, but we are a 24-hour service. Just bottled water is not enough."
Manager Steffan Robbins said he is really concerned about the risk of infection at Orme View care home as they remain without waterManager Steffan Robbins said he is really concerned about the risk of infection at Orme View care home as they remain without water
A community club for the elderly and vulnerable, Clwb yr Efail, had to close its doors on Friday, raising concerns for the well being of vulnerable people. A community club for the elderly and vulnerable, Clwb yr Efail, had to close its doors on Friday.
Terry James, the club's chairperson, said the priority is to support those who normally come to them for a hotel meal, particularly those on a low-income. Terry James, the club's chairman, said the priority was to support those who normally come to them for a meal, particularly those on a low-income.
"Many of our people are in their 80s, some in their 90s. The club is a haven during the day," he said, adding that the team had spent Friday morning making welfare calls to dozens of their members. "Many of our people are in their 80s, some in their 90s. The club is a haven during the day," he said.
Many live alone and some do not have access to social media and are therefore not being updated, Mr James said. Many live alone and some do not have access to social media and were therefore not being updated, Mr James added.
The ongoing water outage has also forced blind veterans staying at the Llandudno centre to be transported home on Friday, as issues are expected to continue into next week. The ongoing water outage also forced blind veterans staying at the Llandudno centre to be transported home on Friday.
The centre said it is working with community teams to ensure that any blind veterans in the area are getting the support they need.
Terry James says many members of Clwb yr Efail are in their 80s and 90s and will not receive updates on social mediaTerry James says many members of Clwb yr Efail are in their 80s and 90s and will not receive updates on social media
Some residents have resorted to using stream and pond water to flush their toilets, while others have ventured out to sea to keep their toilet clean, according to social media users. Some residents resorted to using stream and pond water to flush their toilets, while others have ventured out to sea to keep their toilet clean, according to social media users.
One woman said she had used water collected in the water butt to flush her toilets - while another said she had used water from the "goldfish pond". One woman said she used water collected in the water butt to flush her toilets while another used water from the "goldfish pond".
Community volunteers have been going door to door to deliver water to those in need, including Conservative county councillor for Colwyn, Cheryl Carlisle.
Ms Carlisle has been sourcing water from outside of Old Colwyn to help those in need and says the emergency response to keep the community safe by Welsh Water has been "woefully inadequate".
Speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast, she said: "We've had some heartbreaking stories, there are currently some nursing homes without water. It's very distressing for them all.
"I keep thinking of elderly people, if they are not on social media, they will be so bewildered by everything."
There are about 5,000 vulnerable members on the list with Welsh Water and water tankers are being used to supply water to hospitals and care homes.
Two bottled water stations have been established for those who have lost water
Welsh Water has apologised and said it recognises "the inconvenience being experienced by customers", but compensation will be paid to those affected.
Eligible households will be paid £30 for every 12 hours their supplies have been affected - while business customers will be paid £75 for every 12 hours.
The company said two bottled water stations have been opened in Conwy, one in Park Eirias and another in Zip World, with a third planned and aims to deliver bottled water in some "key community locations".
Bottled drinking water and static tanks are available on both sites for customers to bring their own containers to fill up with water for flushing - but the company asked customers to only take what they need.
Large queues of cars were waiting to go on site at Zip World Conwy on Friday, with a queue snaking around half a mile down the road – showing the scale of how many people have been affected.
Track how your area is affected here, external
Welsh Water staff were opening people's car doors and putting in packs of large water battles before they set offWelsh Water staff were opening people's car doors and putting in packs of large water battles before they set off
Jo Duffy from Llandudno drove five miles to get water as her water has been off since Thursday afternoon. Welsh Water apologised and said it recognised "the inconvenience being experienced by customers", with compensation due to be paid to those affected.
"We shouldn't have to come all the way over here," said Ms Duffy. Eligible households will be paid £30 for every 12 hours their supplies have been affected while business customers will be paid £75 for every 12 hours.
"We can't even flush the toilet," she said, adding that it has been "really very difficult" to cook anything. The company said two bottled water stations were running in Conwy, one in Park Eirias and another in Zip World, with a third planned.
Gwrych Castle in Abergele said it was offering water for the most vulnerable, as their main water supply was reconnected on Friday afternoon. Bottled drinking water and static tanks are available on both sites for customers to bring their own containers to fill up with water for flushing - but the company asked customers to only take what they need.
Large queues of cars were waiting to go on site at Zip World Conwy on Friday, with a queue snaking about half a mile down the road.
Jo Duffy is one of those without water and had to travel to collect water from a stationJo Duffy is one of those without water and had to travel to collect water from a station
Water supply issues remain at hospital sites in Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Bryn-y Neuadd but there has been no disruption to services, according to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Jo Duffy from Llandudno, drove five miles to get water after losing her supply on Thursday afternoon.
Imran Devji, interim chief operating officer at Besti Cadwaladr, said bottled water and temporary toilet facilities have been supplied to support staff with face-to-face appointments. "We shouldn't have to come all the way over here," she said Ms Duffy.
While people who need to be seen in person are being treated at alternative sites, including Colwyn Bay Hospital and Llandudno Hospital. "We can't even flush the toilet."
Gwrych Castle in Abergele said it was offering water for the most vulnerable, as its main water supply was reconnected on Friday afternoon.
Drone footage shows the repair work continuing at the treatment plant on Friday afternoonDrone footage shows the repair work continuing at the treatment plant on Friday afternoon
Several nurseries have been closed on Friday and a planned concert by the London Symphonic Rock Orchestra at Venue Cymru in Llandudno has also been postponed, according to their website. Water supply issues remain at hospital sites in Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Bryn-y Neuadd but there has been no disruption to services, according to Betsi Cadwaladr health board.
Despite the water issues that have affected the area, a home football game has been given the go ahead between Colwyn Bay FC and Buckley Town on Friday evening. Imran Devji, its interim chief operating officer, said bottled water and temporary toilet facilities have been supplied to support staff with face-to-face appointments.
The incident is affecting supplies, external in Conwy, Dolgarrog, Eglwys Bach, Groesffordd, Gwytherin, Henryd, Llanbedr y Cennin, Llanddoged, Llanfair Talhaiarn, Llangernyw, Maenan, parts of Llanrwst, Llandudno, Llandudno Junction, Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay, Pandy Tudur, Pentrefelin, Rowen, Rhyd y foel, Tal y Bont, Tal y Cafn, Ty'n y Groes and Trofarth. People who need to be seen in person are being treated at alternative sites, including Colwyn Bay Hospital and Llandudno Hospital.
Additional reporting by Charlie Buckland and Carwyn Jones