Thames Water accused of ‘failing’ residents after water supplies were cut in parts of Surrey

County councillor Liz Townsend said people were ‘annoyed’, adding that ‘the service is not fit for purpose’
A tanker from Thames Water pumps water into another tanker (Andrew MAtthews/PA)
PA Wire
Sami Quadri14 August 2022

A councillor has accused Thames Water of having “failed” its residents after water supplies were cut off in parts of Surrey.

Around 7,000 people were left without water supplies on Saturday after technical issues emerged while pipes were being replaced at Netley Mill Water Treatment Works.

Water supplies are beginning to return but councillor Liz Townsend said people were “annoyed”, adding “the service is not fit for purpose” after multiple interruptions have been reported in the area this year.

The Lib Dem representative for Cranleigh and Ewhurst said: “We’re no strangers to water loss. We’ve had interruptions to supplies in February and July and one village has had three interruptions this year alone.

"This is happening more and more, and the service is not fit for purpose, and residents are rightly getting very annoyed.

Ms Townsend added: "Thames Water are meant to be delivering water to vulnerable people, but that system broke down. I was getting messages from people who had not been delivered any water."

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: "We’re very sorry if you have no water or low pressure. We know this has been incredibly disruptive during the very hot weather.

"Supplies are gradually starting to return to the area and this will continue throughout the day. As they return, you may experience low water pressure to begin with, especially if you live higher up.

"Our engineers are busy identifying and unblocking air pockets in the system, to help get supplies back to normal as quickly as possible."

Three bottled water stations remain open at Cranleigh Leisure Centre in Village Way, Surrey Hills Business Park and Gomshall Village Sports and Social Club.

The postcodes that had been affected were GU5, GU6, RH4, RH5 and RH12.

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