Businesses and schools shut as thousands lose water

Business and schools have been forced to close and as many as 40,000 homes could be without water after a pipe burst at a treatment plant.

The incident at Bryn Cowlyd Water Treatment Works in Dolgarrog, Conwy, has closed five schools and affected businesses and services across the county, including a GP surgery that has cancelled face-to-face appointments.

Welsh Water said about 8,000 homes lost supplies on Wednesday night and another 33,000 were at risk of losing theirs until repairs were complete.

According to an update published on Welsh Water's website, the work was due to be finished on Friday, but is "taking longer than expected".

The firm said the issue was affecting Conwy county only, after previously saying properties in Denbighshire had also lost water.

Hospital sites in Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Bryn-y Neuadd have experienced water supply issues but no disruption has been caused, Besti Cadwaladr health board confirmed.

Llanrwst and Conwy library shut on Thursday, as well as Bodlondeb offices in Conwy.

But some small businesses said they would remain open despite the lack of water.

Welsh Water boss, Peter Perry, said a 60cm wide pipe had burst near Bryn Cowlyd Works.

"It's burst in the banks of the Afon Du, which is a tributary into the estuary at Conwy there, and the location means that the pipeline is almost 10m deep," he said.

"It's two and a half meters below the bed of the river, so we've actually had to provide a dam around the excavation to protect the safety of our workforce."

There was, he said, a "probability" the main would be fixed in the next 24 hours.

As well as repairing the pipe time would be needed to refill the network, which supplies 40,000 properties.

Mr Perry said it could take more than 48 hours.

He said: "If we can do it any quicker we will. But what I'd rather do is be realistic with our customers, it could take 48 hours."

The chief executive said he was aware farmers were worried about their animals but that priority service customers were being focused on.

Nothing, he said, was currently in place for animals.

"There are over 2,000 customers in the area which are registered with us having medical requirements, for example," he said.

"That's where our priority is, as the days unfold in front of us now."

He added that water had been delivered to more than 2,000 vulnerable customers on Thursday.

Posting to Facebook on Thursday evening, local councillor Cheryl Carlisle said the situation was "extremely serious" and would "not be resolved any time soon".

"Please conserve whatever water you currently have, and look after any elderly and vulnerable neighbours and residents," Ms Carlisle added.

Worthy Hairdressing salon in Conwy chose to open its doors under a "dry cuts only" policy on Thursday as it was the only service they could provide.

Hairdresser Jade Barrett said they were booked up all day but that had "changed a lot" as they continued to rearrange appointments.

Cafe owner Isaac Simeon said he was unable to make hot drinks but had plenty of cakes and sandwiches to continue business as normal.

"I can't make coffee and tea today, but it's OK, I am open. If not, and there's no people coming, no problem," he said.

Tourist attractions Conwy Castle and the National Trust's Bodnant Gardens remained closed on Thursday while Bodreinallt surgery in Conwy cancelled face-to-face appointments.

Conwy-based breakfast restaurant M&J bistro announced its closure on a Facebook post, adding it would keep customers updated as to whether it could reopen on Friday.

Duty manager of Caer Rhun Hall Hotel, Torin Chaplain, said the water outage had caused some issues as their outbuildings remain without water, as well as part of the main hotel.

"All our public bathrooms have stopped working," he said, adding that "for some reason though, we seem to be very lucky because the kitchen seems OK".

Many leisure facilities across the county have also been forced to close, including: Colwyn Leisure Centre, James Alexander Barr Tennis Centre, Eirias Events Centre, Llandudno Swimming Centre, Llanrwst Swimming Pool, Creuddyn Leisure Centre, John Bright Leisure Centre and Llandudno Junction Leisure Centre.

The incident is affecting supplies in Conwy, Dolgarrog, Eglwys Bach, Groesffordd, Gwytherin, Henryd, Llanbedr y Cennin, Llanddoged, Llanfair Talhaiarn, Llangernyw, Maenan, parts of Llanrwst, Pandy Tudur, Pentrefelin, Rowen, Rhyd y foel, Tal y Bont, Tal y Cafn, Tyn Groes and Trofarth.

Councillor Goronwy Edwards, who is responsible for infrastructure and facilities in Conwy, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast he was waiting for more information but distribution centres were open for the vulnerable in Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay.

Some of those affected have been collecting bottled water from the park, including Anne Parry who said said she saw a message on social media advertising the service, but when she got there realised they were only being given out to vulnerable people.

"They are delivering it to all the people who can't get out first, and then they are delivering it to other people, I suppose, after that," said Ms Parry.

She said both she and her partner needed water to take medications.

"It's inconvenient not being able to wash and shower properly," she added.

"I'll be alright as long as I get my water delivery.

"It's bad enough with all the cold water we have had, now we have this to contend with."

Mr Edwards, who also runs a farm in the county, said if the water did not come on soon many farmers and other businesses would struggle and animals which had been brought in to barns for the winter would have to go back to the fields.

"I've got about 200 sheep... and they are dependant on water," he said.

"We are a hospitality area as well, they will be struggling without water."

He claimed "lack of investment" and "aged" infrastructure had led to an increase in burst pipes.

Welsh Water said customers had been contacted directly by text message to inform them about the issues.

The Welsh government called the problems "significant" and said ministers were being kept informed.

Welsh Water, it said, was working as fast as it could to restore supplies.

"Public services are focused on ensuring that the most vulnerable households are safeguarded for as long as the incident lasts," a Welsh government spokesman said.

They added that Public Health Wales had issued hydration advice and that bottled water supplies were being delivered to affected areas.