Southern Water has confirmed that nearly 60,000 homes in Hampshire are currently without water due to a “technical issue” at the Testwood Water Supply Works. The affected areas include Southampton, Romsey, Eastleigh, Totton, and parts of the New Forest. The issue at the Testwood facility is preventing water from leaving the site, which has led to widespread disruption for local residents.
Ongoing Efforts to Restore Water Supply
Southern Water has issued an apology and is working tirelessly to resolve the issue, though they warned that the problem may persist through the weekend. As of Thursday morning, the company provided an update stating that the issue had been identified, and teams were working to gradually restore the water supply.
The update said:
“Overnight our teams have fixed the problem at the Testwood Water Supply Works and restarted the site. We’re now filling up the reservoir again with drinking water, ready to restore supply.”
However, the process of restoring water is described as gradual, and customers can expect to be reconnected later today. The company emphasized that they are taking the necessary safety precautions during the process.
Impact on Local Services and Businesses
- Long queues have been reported at bottle stations set up in the region, including at Places Leisure Centre in Eastleigh, Sainsbury’s in Southampton, and Asda in Totton.
- Several schools in the affected areas have reported they are unlikely to open, as water is essential for basic sanitation and operations.
- Hospitals, including Southampton General and Princess Anne Hospital, are being supported with dedicated water tankers to ensure continuity of care. The hospitals have asked patients to attend appointments as planned but to allow for extra time due to access restrictions and the logistical needs of delivering water.
Priority Support for Vulnerable Customers
Southern Water is continuing to supply bottled water to care homes and vulnerable customers, prioritizing those who are registered on their priority list. In addition to delivering bottled water, the company has set up additional distribution stations across the affected areas and will be providing further details.
Apology and Future Expectations
Southern Water has expressed sincere apologies to its customers for the disruption caused by the outage, acknowledging the inconvenience. They reassured the public that they are working hard to ensure that all homes will be reconnected by the weekend.
The company has also stated that it will provide more details on the bottled water distribution points and ensure that services continue to be restored safely and efficiently.
Key Points to Remember:
- 58,000 homes affected across Southampton, Romsey, Eastleigh, Totton, and parts of the New Forest.
- The issue stems from a technical fault at the Testwood Water Supply Works.
- Water supply restoration is expected to be a gradual process, with full resolution anticipated by the weekend.
- Bottled water stations are in place at key locations, including Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Places Leisure Centre.
- Support is being provided to vulnerable customers, including care homes and hospitals.
Southern Water has assured customers that they are doing everything they can to return normal service as quickly as possible and minimize the disruption caused.