North Staffordshire families call for action after again waking to water issues

Dave Knapper
·5-min read
Homes around Eaton Park and Bentilee have little or no water this afternoon
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


Fed-up families are calling for action over ongoing issues with their water supply - after again waking up to problems. Text messages have been sent out to scores of customers across Norton, Ball Green, Brown Edge and Endon who are experiencing low pressure.

Now Severn Trent has outlined the reason behind the recurring problems - and says engineers are on the case. The problems are thought to date back to around August and revolved around the pumps which send water to households.

Today and Severn Trent has assured customers its teams are working on a 'long-term solution' after issuing a lengthy explanation to families. While other neighbourhoods in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle and the Moorlands have experienced issues around supply, pressure and discoloured water, many are thought to have been one-off problems that have been repaired.

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However Severn Trent will regularly issue an 'area event' covering scores of streets around Norton, Brindley Ford, Norton Green, Brown Edge, Endon, Chell, Fegg Hayes, and Packmoor.

It is in a number of those streets where Severn Trent has promised to find long-term solution to the ongoing problem with its pumps. In Endon and Brown Edge, ward councillor Joe Porter has been working with Moorlands MP Karen Bradley to discuss the issues with the water supplier.

Neighbourhoods affected by water problems
Neighbourhoods affected by water problems

In a social media post, Councillor Porter, who has written to the water supplier's chief executive, wrote: "They (Severn Trent) have agreed that the level of service and supply is completely unacceptable and have apologised for the impact on our community and said they will ensure there is a quick resolution. I will continue to push for compensation for local residents and businesses. I’m also pleased to say that they have agreed to look into my idea of building better relationships with the local communities they serve by working with local councillors on the specific local issues affecting those local areas."

This morning and fed-up residents have taken to a community Facebook page to brand the problem 'an absolute joke' after waking up to low pressure. However today and Severn Trent has posted a lengthy explanation around the 'booster failure'.

What Severn Trent has said today

"We want to tell you what we’ve found, how we’re working to fix it, and what you can do in the meantime if your water supply is impacted. Some people in your area have had intermittent problems with the water supply recently, such as lower than usual pressure, no water at all or discolouration – and we know that this has happened again this morning (November 15).

"It’s down to issues with the power supply at one of our sites that helps pump water around your area. We know this must be frustrating, and we want to assure you that we’re working hard on a long-term solution."

What has happened?

"We use equipment called ‘boosters’ to help us with the water supply in your area. When there’s a problem with the power supply, this causes those boosters to trip and means they’re unable to pump the water around the network to where it needs to go."

What Severn Trent is doing about it

"We’re working with the electricity provider and they are in the area with us helping to identify the problem. At the same time, we’re doing our own work on site to make its power supply more resilient.

"Please be assured that your water supply is a priority to us and we have teams working on this right now. We’re working on a long-term solution so you and your neighbours get the water supply you deserve, as soon as possible."

What to do if water is cloudy or discoloured

"Sometimes when there’s a change or work on the network, air can become trapped in the pipes which can cause the water to appear cloudy, or milky. This is nothing to worry about and happens because of tiny air bubbles that will clear on their own as it finds a way out of the network again."

'Our priority is to get it fixed'

"We totally get how frustrating it is to have any interruption to the water supply – no matter how brief. We also appreciate this has happened more than once for some of you, so we’re doing everything we can to find the cause, and what we can do to prevent it happening again.

"Our priority right now is to get this fixed, and we’ll find a way to support your local community to show how much we appreciate your patience. "

Severn Trent are working on issues across North Staffordshire (stock image) -Credit:Birmingham Live
Severn Trent are working on issues across North Staffordshire (stock image) -Credit:Birmingham Live

Today's text message to customers

"You may notice that you have no water, or it's a lower pressure than usual. We are really sorry about this, and it has been caused by a power supply issue to pumps in the area.

"We are working hard to get your water back on quickly and appreciate your ongoing patience."

Sampling done over illness reports

StokeonTrentLive had asked the water supplier over some residents in the Norton area reporting feeling unwell. However Severn Trent has confirmed it had 'four customer contacts around potential illness' and 'all sampling is satisfactory indicating no link to the water supply.'

A spokesperson added: "We understand that some customers have experienced intermittent problems to their water supply recently, and we’re very sorry about this. The problems are being caused by a power supply issue to our boosters that pump water around the area.

“We know that any interruption to the water, no matter how brief, is frustrating and we’re working to fully identify the problem with the electricity provider. We’re also continuing our work on site as a priority to find a long-term solution and appreciate everyone’s patience as we do this.

“We’d like to also reassure everyone our teams have been sampling and monitoring the area, and all our samples and water quality testing have returned as we’d expect.”

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