As many as 40,000 homes in North Wales remain without water following a burst pipe at Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works in Dolgarrog, Conwy. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, has also forced schools and businesses to close, causing widespread disruption across the region. The water supply was initially expected to be restored by Thursday but as of Friday morning, Dŵr Cymru has announced it will take an additional 48 hours to restore supply. Residents have been left without essential services, prompting concerns over the prolonged impact on families, schools, and businesses.
Commenting, Leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd Group, Darren Millar MS said:
“The situation is unacceptable and rapidly becoming a humanitarian crisis.
“Mums with babies have no access to sterilised water, a number of care homes have received no deliveries of bottled water for the vulnerable people in their care, and domiciliary carers and district nurses are unable to wash people or change wounds.
“The contingency arrangements aren't working and the lack of communications from Welsh Water to local residents is causing unnecessary confusion and distress.
“I appreciate that people are working hard and engineers are working flat out to get things fixed, but we need to get water to those who need it, and fast.
“The compensation being offered to residential and business customers is derisory.
“Once supplies are restored it is vital that Welsh Water and the Welsh Government learn lessons from this fiasco so I have tabled an emergency question for discussion in the Senedd next week.”
Also commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and the Environment, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, added:
“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing situation and I urge Dŵr Cymru to do all they can to ensure this is resolved as soon as possible.
“Residents have been understandably frustrated by large queues at water collection centres and older residents have been left confused by the lack of clear communication outside of social media from Dŵr Cymru.
“We were promised a pallet for distribution here in Llandudno this morning, as there is absolutely no provision here whatsoever. My staff and I have stayed on to help distribute water, but the situation remains chaotic at the already sited water distribution points and I have stressed to Dwr Cymru that they MUST put better measures in place locally.
“It’s crucial that this issue is resolved as soon as possible and Dŵr Cymru must take responsibility to ensure the people of Conwy have their water restored.”
