Water companies recover from Storm Arwen

Water companies affected by Storm Arwen are now returning to normal operations.

Scottish Water reported supplies have been restored where they were interrupted, following a huge effort ahead of and during the adverse weather.

The power supply for 43 Scottish water treatment works was supplemented with generators on a precautionary basis. Generators were used at a further 15 sites as the full impact of the storm on the electricity network became clear, with supply for around 1.5 m customers being maintained in this way at the peak of disruption.

A fleet of 22 road tankers also operated across the affected regions in Scotland to sustain water supplies wherever possible and support faster recovery of affected water networks.

Scottish Water distributed bottled water to the most affected customers and communities, with direct delivery to care homes and priority service customers, as well as community collection points.

Kes Juskowiak, water operations general manager, said: “With all affected water networks now recovered and a stable electricity supply in place at all of our sites, our frontline teams are returning to normal operation. We will continue to respond as quickly as possible to any new issues that arise on a 24/7 basis.”

Eighteen thousand homes and businesses were initially without water across Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus, Perthshire, Stirlingshire, the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway.

Northumbrian Water also experienced loss of power to a large number of its sites and pumping stations with resulting supply interruptions in areas including Berwick, Cambo, Bingfield, Byrness, Rochester, Slaley, Whickham and Wooler. These supplies are now restored. Some customers remain without power