Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water notified the Welsh Government on Wednesday 13 August that a repair previously carried out on a burst water main near Bretton Water Treatment Works in Flintshire had deteriorated and that an emergency fix was now required1. The Welsh Government says this meant an interruption to the water supply for a significant number of properties in the area1.
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, said in a written statement published on 27 August that some communities were affected for several days1. He described it as a substantial burst requiring a complex fix because of the depth of the leak, and said supplies had been restored to all affected customers1. The statement gives no figure for the number of properties affected, and no start or end times for the interruption beyond the notification date of 13 August1.
Support during the incident included:
| Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bottled water stations | Three established over the course of the incident1 |
| Community hubs | Set up to provide alternative water1 |
| Deliveries to vulnerable individuals | Bottled water delivered by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water1 |
| Health and care settings | Supplies maintained to a hospital and to care homes1 |
| Coordination | Welsh Government activated its response arrangements in support of a multi-agency response by the North Wales Local Resilience Forum1 |
"The loss of water supply for any extended period can have a significant impact, especially during a time when temperatures are high."
The statement says Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has announced arrangements for compensation for residential and business customers, with information on its website1. It also notes that this is the second significant water supply incident to affect areas of North Wales this year, after the incident in Conwy in January, and that the minister met the company on 19 August and welcomed confirmation that learning from the Conwy incident had been applied1.
Why it matters for households
The statement confirms that households in parts of Flintshire lost supply, some for several days, during a period of high temperatures1. For affected households the practical effects are those of any supply interruption: loss of water for drinking, cooking, washing and flushing, with alternative supplies provided through bottled water stations, community hubs and deliveries to vulnerable individuals1. The statement says supplies to a hospital and care homes were maintained1. Households can read how companies organise this kind of response in our guide to how water companies respond to a major incident, and how to report a loss of supply or a burst in how to report no water or a burst pipe. Guidance on how much drinking water to store per person and a home drinking supply storage checklist set out household planning; the water hub covers the wider subject. The statement does not give advice to households beyond pointing to the company's compensation information1.
What happens next
The Drinking Water Inspectorate, which the statement describes as the regulator overseeing water companies' preparedness for incidents such as this, will review the incident, and the Welsh Government says it will await its conclusions1. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water will reflect on the incident and identify what worked well and what needs improvement1. The statement also refers to a price review settlement investing over £6bn in Wales' water infrastructure over the next five years, which the Welsh Government and Ofwat will monitor1.
Supply Interruption Checklist
Water Company Incident Response
