Northern Ireland - 40,000 without water,,,,

Link: [link to www.bbc.co.uk]

Snip from BBC News website:
Northern Ireland's deputy first minister has said he feels "absolutely let down" by NI Water's handling of a crisis in water supplies.

He was speaking as 40,000 people across NI struggled to cope without water - some for over a week.

Martin McGuinness said people were left without water and without information as to when it would be restored.

"My focus is on how NI Water can do things better over the course of the next number of days," he said.

"The biggest challenge is to provide accurate information and to ensure people who have been deprived - some for up to 11 days - can have water restored."

Mr McGuinness said NI Water would provide information about when people's water supplies would be restored and cut off on their website later on Wednesday.

"Our concern has to be around the difficulties experienced by elderly people and young people with very young babies," he said.

Northern Ireland Water is a government-run company and is NI's sole provider of water and sewerage services.

It has said an unprecedented number of leaks caused by the thaw following a long period of freezing weather have been putting "big pressure" on its systems.

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy said: "The big problems have been communication and the lack of information on the ground.

"People want certainty that they are going to get accurate information as to what is happening and to get water restored."

Northern Ireland Water has warned that the disruption could continue for several more days.

Executive ministers are to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss the crisis.

Almost 80 towns and villages across NI have been affected.

The Scottish Executive has offered to supply bottled water if required.

Local councils are working to supply water and offer free showers to people without a mains supply.

Yikes!!