UU restores water supply to majority of homes

United Utilities (UU) has restored mains water supply to the majority of customers in the North-West of England after storms at the weekend caused “devastating” floods in the area.

The company said in a statement yesterday evening that its Bridge End water treatment works in Keswick is now operational, meaning supplies have been restored to all 150 customers who were without mains water.

Supplies have returned to 467 homes in Patterdale and Glenridding although UU warned that around 30 properties are still experiencing poor pressure, so the firm will continue to pump into the network with alternative supply vehicles until supplies return to normal.

In Lancaster water supplies have returned to normal after power was restored allowing water pumps to be brought back on line, but UU said it “continues to monitor the situation”.

Boil water notices remain in place in Borrowdale and Keswick. The firm will issue another update today (Wednesday 9 December).

A number of wastewater treatment sites have been affected by flooding, including wastewater treatment works at Carlisle, Kendal, Garstang and Lancaster.

UU said engineers are already working to get these works functioning as normal, but the damage is expected to take weeks to put right.

The firm’s wastewater services director Simon Chadwick said: “This is an extremely difficult time for many households and businesses in our region, and we will continue to do everything possible to support them. We are working closely with the emergency services, the army, the Environment Agency and Electricity North West.”

UU could face costs of up to £50 million according to analysts, who have predicted clean-up costs of £20-£25 million, and an Ofwat-imposed penalty of £20-£22 million.