Southern Water shortage: Hampshire MP Caroline Nokes criticises firm

Southern Water has been highly criticised by an MP whose constituents are facing a Christmas without supplies.

Hampshire MP Caroline Nokes said it was "entirely unacceptable" that 20,000 people were entering a third day without water.

The company said pipes had burst following a thaw after freezing temperatures.

But it added supplies should be returned by the end of Friday.

Homes and businesses in the Southampton, Eastleigh, Hedge End and Chandler's Ford area have either suffered with low pressure or been without water since Wednesday.

In a statement released on Friday morning Southern Water said it was in a position where it believed it could meet demand and that "customers will see water supply in their homes over the coming hours".

The company said it would be increasing supply gradually as it re-pressurises the network to avoid pipes bursting.

"This means that it's going to take a little while for all our customers to be back in supply, and for some that could be this evening," it said.

It again apologised for the inconvenience to its customers who are still having to collect bottled water from four water stations in the SO postcodes, and told the BBC compensation would be forthcoming.

Chandler's Ford resident Andy Skinner, who has three children, said the past two days had been "hard" as he had to bathe his eight-month-old baby in the sink "with just two litres of water".

"That was a pain, you can't wash, you can't cook very easily," he said, adding: "A couple of days I know it doesn't seem that long but it feels like a long time when you are so used to having water at your beck and call."

Mr Skinner said it had been "frustrating" waiting for his supply to be restored, which eventually happened on Friday morning.

"Freezing and thawing was the reason given but everywhere else in the country has had the same concerns and yet it seems to be only this part of the UK that has been affected and that is a bit of a worry," he said.

Other residents took to social media to voice their frustration saying the issue was "totally unacceptable" and "shambolic", but several people also praised the Southern Water staff who have been working to solve the matter.

Winchester farmer Oliver Neagle said his dairy herd was left without water for 18 hours after supplies were disrupted.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent, the MP for Romsey and Southampton North said the problem had "been a long time coming".

Ms Nokes said customers had reported issues with leaks since the August drought and "nothing's been done about them so you could argue the the problem's of Southern Water's own making."

The Conservative MP was out delivering water on Thursday night and said one of her constituents had got up at midnight and "put every pot and pan she had in the kitchen out in her garden to collect rainwater so she'd had some water to flush the loo with".

Ms Nokes said the woman and her husband, who is disabled, both had Covid and were on Southern Water's priority service register but had still had no support.

"Defra (Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs) need to have a serious conversation about this in the new year," she said.

"It is unacceptable."

In response, Southern Water's chief customer officer, Katy Taylor, said: "All we can do is ask customers to get in touch with us if they haven't received water.

"We will take all those calls by whatever channel they come to us and we will get that water delivered and I know the guys have been getting water delivered throughout the night."

She said customers would "absolutely" have their water back by Christmas Day, adding: "We're hoping by the end of today [Friday}."

The three bottled water stations set up are open daily from 08:00 to 22:00 GMT, unless stated otherwise on Southern Water's website.

However, the water firm urged people to check online before travelling to its Eastleigh station which "may close briefly to restock".

Elsewhere, multiple pipe bursts and leaks have also led to the loss of supplies in parts of Sussex and Kent after storage reservoir levels dropped.

South East Water said supplies had returned in Tunbridge Wells, and should be back in Sussex later.

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