Water off for three days in thousands of homes after big freeze

AROUND 3,000 properties across Gwynedd and Anglesey were left without water last week – forcing some to use melted snow to flush their toilets.

Supplies in villages on Anglesey, including Llanddona, Llandegfan, Llansadwrn, Llangoed, Penmon and Glanrafon, were cut off on Friday as the Beast from the East and Storm Emma took their toll on the area’s water system.

Properties in Blaenau Ffestiniog and parts of the Llŷn Peninsula have also been affected.

Residents in parts of Caernarfon were also hard hit by the big freeze.

Customers in some areas of the town were told by text or e-mail on Sunday morning that supply was limited due to a “burst water main” - with promises that the service would return to normal by that evening.

However, many residents did not see supplies until early the following morning (Monday) with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water apologising to some customers for the delay.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is blaming extreme weather conditions, a surge in leaks and an increase in demand.

Anglesey councillor Carwyn Elias Jones said he felt the response from Welsh Water had been “poor” and had “left many feeling abandoned”.

He said: “Dŵr Cymru should at minimum have water tankers going around as a basic human right. Three days without flushing a toilet is no joke at all, there are also very vulnerable people out there struggling without water.”

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “The extreme weather conditions have presented us with unprecedented challenges.

“As soon as we became aware of these issues, we contacted all affected customers and where possible delivered bottled water to vulnerable customers.

“We have set up bottled water stations. The supply problems have been caused by leaks and higher than usual demand.

“Over the past 24 hours we have put more water into the network than during the peak period last summer.”