Around 40,000 households face having no water as five schools have been forced to temporarily shut their doors after a pipe burst at a treatment plant.
Yesterday, a burst water main at Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works left 8,000 homes without water across Conwy in north Wales.
The water firm confirmed that only Conwy county had been impacted, after previously stating homes in Denbighshire had also lost water
Welsh Water confirmed an estimated 8,000 homes were without water on Wednesday with another 33,000 at risk of losing supplies as they raced to fix the issue.
Several schools and services have been shut due to the incident, including five schools, two libraries in Llanrwst and Conwy, as well as Bordreinallt surgery.
Crews from the water firm are currently at the site, with tankers mobilised in a bid to keep as many people on supply as possible.
Water supplies are not expected to be restored until later this evening.
The company explained the repairs would be ‘difficult and dangerous’ due to the burst pipe being situated two-and-a-half meters beneath the river bed.
Welsh Water staff would have to create a dam-like structure in the Conwy Valley in an attempt to gain access to the damaged water pipe, the company told the BBC.
Have you been left without water? E-mail: shannon.mcguigan@mailonline.co.uk
Around 40,000 could be left without water after a water pipe burst at a treatment plant in north Wales
The water firm have said it is ‘dangerous and difficult’ to make the repair as it is located two meters beneath the river bed in the Conwy Valley
Furious residents have since slammed the water firm on X, branding their service ‘absolutely appalling’.
‘More than 4 times in the last month without any water for more than 24 hours, including Christmas Day! With a young family this is NOT acceptable,’ the local said.
‘No offer of support, to provide bottled water, or offer of compensation.’
A second bemoaned the company wasn’t answering their phones, adding: ‘Some of us have no water and have been waiting in since 8am this morning for you to turn up!! Useless.’
Currently the areas of Trofarth, Pentrefelin, Rowen, Rhyd y foel, Tal y Bont Tal y Cafn, Tyn Groes, Pandy Tudur, parts of Llanrwst, Maenan, Llangernyw, have been impacted.
Galhaiarn, Llanfair, Llanddoged, Llanbedir y Cennin, Henryd, Gwytherin, Groesffordd, Eglwys Bach, Conwy and Dolgarrog are also understood be affected.
Yesterday, a burst water main at Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works (pictured) left 8,000 homes without water across Conwy and Denbighshire
The water firm is understood to have contacted customers directly via SMS and is delivering water bottles to those who are vulnerable
Customers of the water firm are understood to have been contacted via text message about the issue. Bottled water is also being delivered to the vulnerable in the area.
A Welsh Water spokesperson said: We are still dealing with a burst water main at our Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works, Dolgarrog, which is impacting water supplies to properties across the Conwy Valley.
‘Around 8,000 households lost supplies last night and around a further 33,000 properties are now at risk of losing supplies until the repair is complete.
‘Our crews have been working on site overnight but this emergency repair is difficult and dangerous as the burst water main is two and half metres beneath the local river bed (Afon Ddu).
‘This work requires specialist equipment and involves having to create a dam-like structure in the river so that we can excavate and access the damaged water main whilst protecting our workforce and the environment.’
‘We anticipate that supplies will not be fully restored until later today and customers have been contacted directly with text messages to inform them about this incident.
Many have been left furious slamming the water company, quipping that their service was ‘not acceptable’
‘We are prioritising delivering bottled water to vulnerable customers on our Priority Services Register.
‘This involves supporting 5,000 vulnerable customers in the affected areas. We are also tankering water into the network to maintain supplies to local hospitals.
‘We will keep customers informed today and apologise to anyone whose water supply is interrupted and would like to reassure them we are working hard to resolve this significant incident.’
Customers can get the latest information on our website: dwrcymru.com or follow us on our social media channels.
