Water problems with Severn Trent

I read in the Hinckley Times June 13 “It is easy to save water says expert”. Severn Trent water company has urged people to save water, such as using the leftover washing up water in the garden.

The “Beast from the East” was caused by a Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event up to two weeks before. BBC WEATHER website 9 February 2018 reported “What is Sudden Stratospheric Warming? An abrupt jump in temperatures high up in the stratosphere, it can sometimes prompt a cold, wintry spell.” BBC NEWS website 28 February 2018 reported “Europe freezes as ‘Beast from the East’ arrives.”

The Ofwat report 19 June 2018 “Out in the Cold – Water Companies Response to the Beast From The East”.

In February and March this year, the Met Office issued frequent weather warnings that were risk specific and regional. General warnings were given a week in advance. Severn Trent Water did not have a plan in place with appropriate escalation triggers. They contacted nearly 200,000 customers using SMS on both Sunday 4 March and Monday 5 March – providing over 100 updates.

Severn Trent Water completed a request from Ofwat for information based on the maximum number of customers who could have been affected. They were unable to refine this number as temporary data loggers were not able to be deployed during the freeze and thaw period. The company suggests that the total number of customers impacted could be 30% to 50% lower than the stated 56,767 with a loss of water supply for more than a 4 hour period. Alan Cantrill