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Two-week water wait in flood zone Army teams to help fill bowsers
(about 10 hours later)
Some 350,000 people in Gloucestershire could be without mains water for two weeks after a water treatment plant was deluged by the swollen River Severn. The army is to help refill bowsers across Gloucestershire following complaints that they were not being topped up fast enough.
Residents have complained that scores of Severn Trent Water bowsers are already running dry. Some 350,000 people could be without mains water for two weeks after a water treatment plant was deluged by the swollen River Severn.
Severn Trent has pledged to refill them up to five times a day and the Army has been drafted in to provide 4m litres of bottled water. There are up to 900 bowsers across the county, with the army also shipping in bottled water to distribution points.
Some 1,400 portable toilets are also being provided for the most vulnerable. A Severn Trent Water spokeswoman said the company was addressing the problem.
Gloucestershire County Council has purchased 500 portable toilets and 900 portable potties for use by elderly and vulnerable people, particularly those in care homes. "The army is giving us assistance and with their logistical experience and military operation, we should hopefully see an improvement," she said.
'Common sense' "They are emptying faster than we can fill them."
We've got jobs and we can't spend all day looking for water Gloucester resident
Police said some people had been maliciously emptying bowsers, while others had been selling bowser water.Police said some people had been maliciously emptying bowsers, while others had been selling bowser water.
Speaking at a news conference, Chief Constable Tim Brain said there had been some incidences of disorder and people acting selfishly. One woman managed to fill just a quarter of a four litre bottle on Thursday and said she would have to spend most of the day coming back and forth hoping the bowser near her home had been refilled.
"I came down here five times yesterday and there was nothing. We can't put up with much more of this.
"We've got jobs and we can't spend all day looking for water."
On the Coney Hill estate, residents complained that bowsers had not been filled since Monday and claimed some units had been vandalised as soon as they were replenished.
Speaking on Wednesday, Chief Constable Tim Brain said there had been some incidences of disorder and people acting selfishly.
"There will be no exceptions if we find people committing crime and disorder," he said."There will be no exceptions if we find people committing crime and disorder," he said.
We have 60 tankers working round-the-clock so the situation should improve Severn Trent spokesman Residents have complained about the lack of water
"Normal daily use (of water) is not a possibility at the moment. We need to be patient and use our common sense.""Normal daily use (of water) is not a possibility at the moment. We need to be patient and use our common sense."
Severn Trent has drawn up new plans to distribute water to the bowsers.
It is using large tankers to bring water to five distribution hubs before it is transported to smaller tankers which will ferry it to the bowsers.
A Severn Trent spokesman said: "We have 926 bowsers out and a further 130 are in the process of being cleaned ready for use.
"We are aiming to do four or five refills per day but one of these can be emptied in less than half an hour if people fill up large containers.
"We have 60 tankers working around-the-clock so the situation should improve.
"We have four million litres of bottled water to distribute by the Army on Wednesday and have bought another five-and-a-half million litres for Thursday.
"Our two priorities are to provide temporary supplies for people and to get the treatment works running again."
Pumping equipment
Large underground tanks at the flooded Mythe Water Treatment Centre have been pumped out and engineers are assessing the damage caused to the station.Large underground tanks at the flooded Mythe Water Treatment Centre have been pumped out and engineers are assessing the damage caused to the station.
It is believed it could be up to two weeks before the centre is fully operational.It is believed it could be up to two weeks before the centre is fully operational.
Severn Trent Water said eight million litres of water had been pumped out of the basement of the plant between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning using high volume pumping equipment. Gloucestershire County Council has also purchased 500 portable toilets and 900 potties for use by elderly and vulnerable people, particularly those in care homes.
"A limited amount of electrical power has been restored at the site," said a spokesman.
"Hopefully we will have a full understanding of the problem by the end of Wednesday.
"We are also looking at other sources of supply."
Baby wipes
Long queues snaked around supermarket car parks on Wednesday as people queued for their water rations.
Many queuing insisted losing their water supply for two weeks was not a "massive problem" while some said it had helped foster a "wartime spirit".
Mother-of-two Simone Davies, 28, said her family was coping quite well in the circumstances.
"We're getting through it at the moment. I've been buying the kids bottles of Coke and juice drinks and we're using baby wipes to wash with.
"We've also put a bin outside to collect rainwater to flush the toilet with but it's the toilet that really is the worst thing.
"But this is now almost becoming part of our daily routine."