17/01/10
Water companies are working flat out to find and stop leaks from burst mains and customers' supply pipes.
The big thaw could lead to a big rise in leakage to add to the other problems facing the industry and its customers following the coldest spell in thirty years.
Water companies are receiving three or four times the number of emergency calls from customers in a normal winter.
The message going out to customers everywhere is: "If you suspect a leak, contact your water company to help it find the cause of the problem and hold down the volume of water lost".
After several weeks of increased workload, the staff of many companies are still working round the clock to:
• help customers by restoring lost supply
• provide advice about how to deal with frozen pipes
• hold down an almost inevitable rise in leakage which experience shows could be 40% or more.
Operational teams are often hampered by the difficulty of finding bursts in inaccessible places, but also of carrying out complex repairs and replacements in poor weather conditions.
The industry is also doing its best to continue regular maintainance work while prioritising responses to burst pipes and mains that could affect their ability to meet annual leakage targets for the year.
For more information please contact:
Water UK Communication
020 7344 1809 (out of hours 07833 450544)
Advice on dealing with frozen pipes
• Turn off your water supply
• Use a hairdryer (on the lowest setting) or hot water bottle to thaw pipes, starting from the end nearest the tap. Do not warm too quickly.
• Do not use any naked flame (blow torch or heat gun)
• Do not leave taps running or dripping
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