Update on Flooding from Yorkshire Water

The following was sent through as an email from the public relations dept of Yorkshire Water:

"When more than a month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours on Monday, the extreme weather conditions put tremendous pressure on Yorkshire Water's sewage system causing it to fill up to capacity in some areas.  Since then our colleagues have been working around the clock to prevent any further problems from occurring and keeping our assets up and running. 

We realise that we have not been able to provide you with detailed information about activity over the last few days and we would ask you to continue to bear with us over the weekend as more rain is expected.  This email provides a general update on our approach and on the current status of our water and sewerage network.

Before the heavy rain began, we established an incident team to plan and manage the company's systems to ensure customers would not lose their services.  And, for the majority of customers, this has meant people have continued to receive quality drinking water and that their waste is taken away. 

We have also been actively participating with the Environment Agency and local authorities to deal with the most significant issues and will continue to do so over the weekend as more heavy rainfall is forecast. 

All the company's reservoirs and dams are being regularly checked and everything is working as normal.  Customers can also be reassured that the water from their taps is safe to drink, however if taps have been submerged in the flood water, we are advising homeowners to thoroughly wash and disinfect them before using.  

The flooding that has been experienced in the region is a mixture of river water and rain water and in some areas there is also the possibility this may include water which has been forced from the sewers.  It is unlikely that harmful bacteria will be present, we are advising, however, that people take sensible hygiene steps if they do come into contact with the flood water, such as wearing appropriate clothing where necessary including rubber gloves, and washing hands before eating and preparing food.  It is also sensible to prevent children from playing in any flood water as, irrespective of its origin, it is unlikely to be completely clean.

We have focussed on those customers whose homes have suffered from sewer flooding.  We have had teams on the ground working since Monday, getting to affected homes as quickly as possible and we will continue to prioritise these homes over the weekend.  For those who have suffered flooding within their home, all surfaces should be cleaned with hot soapy water and disinfected and fabrics laundered. 


We plan to provide you with fuller information once the current crisis abates and, again, I do hope you will bear with us over the weekend."

28 June 2007