Families left with no water could only get payout of £20

THOUSANDS of families whose taps ran dry following the big freeze may only be entitled to a ‘pitiful’ £20 in compensation – and some could get nothing.

Households must be without water for at least 12 hours before they are eligible for a £20 payout. If the loss of supply is caused by the failure of a major water main, customers get nothing until they have been without water for at least 48 hours. The amount then increases by only £10 for every extra 24-hour period without water, under industry rules.

Payouts for businesses are meagre too, with an initial payment of £50 and then £25 for every extra 24 hours – a tiny amount compared with money lost from potential customers. Labour MP Chuka Umunna said: ‘The compensation available is pitiful and an insult. £20 is not enough to cover the loss of a day’s wages, an extra day’s childcare or compensation for the stress and inconvenience.’

More than 30,000 homes across the South, Wales and the Midlands lost their water supplies as pipes burst after the recent cold snap. Tony Smith, head of the Consumer Council for Water, condemned water firms for failing to prepare properly, and called on them to consider additional compensation.