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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Water cut off for second time in less than 48 hours

28 replies

Whatnowater · 27/11/2021 15:29

I know the water co have to do a job, but can't help but feel the second complete cut off of water in 48 hours is unreasonable.

First time was Thurs eve about 7pm. Went off as I was doing dinner. So had to abort plans to boil veg and do salad instead, and couldn't wash up. No showers etc either. Couldn't even brush our teeth! We had no warning of this, looking on the website seemed there was a leak at the other end of our (long) road, about 30 houses down.

Water was still off when I went to bed around 12.30am. Back on by next morning. All ok all day yesterday.

Today about 1pm I go to fill kettle. No water. So again can't do anything - wash up, use washing machine, even just fill kettle or wash hands.

Contacted them as nothing on website this time. Apparently there's another problem or the same leak, so the water is off til further notice.

How long are we expected to go without water?! I have teenagers in the house, they need at least daily showers!

OP posts:

slashlover · 27/11/2021 15:48

I'd expect notice for preplanned works but they can't plan for a leak.

MRex · 27/11/2021 15:58

It's annoying and it's a shame when it happens, but generally it's rare and doesn't last very long. What other suggestion do you have for how they should handle a leak that doesn't include trying to fix it?

lanthanum · 27/11/2021 16:38

They obviously did a first fix at some point between 7pm Thursday and the following morning - so out of hours, in the dark. I don't think you can complain too much about that - it sounds like they did what they could. Possibly it wasn't as well fixed as they hoped, but at least you had water in the morning.
Hopefully they will be as quick this time, and a bit more successful.

Original poster

Whatnowater · 27/11/2021 16:43

The problem is water is a pretty basic requirement, we need to be able to wash, keep ourselves clean and use the loo. I understand that water has to be turned off but for 6+ hours with no warning, we didn't even have the opportunity to fill bottles, saucepans etc. We usually drink tap water/tea/coffee so had nothing to drink either.

Water is still off.

OP posts:

Vates · 27/11/2021 16:44

Yes, we all need it. But they don't predict the cuts.

TheQueef · 27/11/2021 16:48

Have you checked your water company website, do you qualify for any help?
Send kids to family/ friends for an emergency shower.

arethereanyleftatall · 27/11/2021 16:49

But what could they actually do op?

They had no warning either. So couldn't possibly warn you.

They went out to try to fix it as soon as they can.

What else could they actually have done?

Original poster

Whatnowater · 27/11/2021 16:55

The leak isn't the reason we have no water, its them turning off the water to fix the leak (again) thats caused this. I would have expected them to contact us and let us know the water was going off so we had at least a few mins warning rather than no warning at all -especially today when there's nothing even on the website to say works are happening.

I probably am BU but todays been a write off, I can't wash up, do any housework or laundry, have a bath or even a hot drink.

OP posts:

Peas252 · 27/11/2021 17:03

@Whatnowater

I probably am BU but todays been a write off, I can't wash up, do any housework or laundry, have a bath or even a hot drink.

Not sure how the water being off prevents you from hoovering

Kite22 · 27/11/2021 17:06

I agree with everyone else.
Obviously it is frustrating to be without water, but they couldn't predict the leak.

Why not call a friend and ask if you can pop round and fill a few containers ? Even have a shower if you really feel it is that desperate a situation ?

Original poster

Whatnowater · 27/11/2021 17:22

I don't have anyone locally I know well enough.

We have wooden floors throughout the house so I give them a quick sweep and then mop, but can't mop at present. Likewise damp dusting, any cleaning of bathroom etc.

OP posts:

Elieza · 27/11/2021 17:22

Water surely has to be provided after a certain amount of time?

In our area they have bottles delivered to the local community centre or school car park and you go and get it if it’s going to be a long issue -also they get a standpipe in the nearby streets not affected. And sometimes one of those towable water container trailers with a tap and you help yourself using buckets etc.

Check their website or look for guidance on the rules.

loislovesstewie · 27/11/2021 17:24

I don't know where you live, but we get a telephone message if there is an emergency repair needed near to us. Not sure if it's because I have a child who is classed as vulnerable or what.

Thesearmsofmine · 27/11/2021 17:27

It’s really annoying but it happens. Ours was off for over 12 hours a few weeks back, they did start to provide bottled water but you had to go collect them and they were all gone within a few minutes. DH went to the supermarket and stocked up on bottled water for us and the neighbours,

Unhomme · 27/11/2021 17:28

Wow, you're hard work OP.

Kite22 · 27/11/2021 17:28

I don't have anyone locally I know well enough.

You said you have teens. Setting aside the fact I find it hard to believe people don't know anyone in their locality, Surely your teens can ask a mate's family if they can come round and fill up some containers. You don't have to know people "well enough" to get some help in those circumstances. You wouldn't begrudge someone you didn't know well a few litres of water from your tap if you had none, would you ?

Soubriquet · 27/11/2021 17:30

Go to the shop and buy bottled water? Least then you can have hot drinks, cook food etc

Smartiepants79 · 27/11/2021 17:34

Go and buy some water??
You’re making this into a very big deal.
It happens.

Chloemol · 27/11/2021 17:35

@Whatnowater

I probably am BU but todays been a write off, I can't wash up, do any housework or laundry, have a bath or even a hot drink.

I just get so frustrated with stupid comments like this

The leak is the reason, they have to switch the water off to open up the pipe and repair the leak

Or would you prefer they try and mend a leak with litres and litres of water cascading down the road?

When you have a leak in your bathroom tap you switch the water ooff to do the repair

I get it’s frustrating, and sometimes in planned work they leaflet, but this is a leak, they can’t prepare for it

MyDcAreMarvel · 27/11/2021 17:35

Of course you can drink just go and buy some mineral water and juice. Not showering for one day, not an issue. Use mineral water for teeth. Are you always this dramatic?

MintJulia · 27/11/2021 17:41

Go and buy a couple of the largest containers of water you can find.

It's frustrating. I'm sure the water company is doing its best but you don't know when it will be back on. Do you have a water butt to use for flushing the loo?

Original poster

Whatnowater · 27/11/2021 17:43

I have been out today and got us some bottled water to drink, but I don't want to waste that using it for anything else really. Plus my cars off the road so I was limited in how much I could get as it had to be carried back.

We definitely didn't get any kind of phone call or notification beforehand. When I phoned today I did ask if any emergency measures to deliver water would be put in place but there were no plans for this apparently.

My children's friends are not that local and I don't know the parents, plus without a car I'd struggle to get to them. Asking someone you don't know for water feels like a big ask especially if they're on a meter but asking them for water and to drop it off is too much really.

I've called again and some Good news, apparently it should be back on by 7 which will be a relief.

OP posts:

ShinyMe · 27/11/2021 17:45

With many leaks it is urgent to turn off the water and repair partly because of the difficulty of repairing without turning off, but also because leaving the water on might not be safe - there can be contamination in the water meaning that they have to turn it off immediately.

authenticforgery · 27/11/2021 17:47

Go to a shop and buy some drinks? This is a weird post. It's inconvenient but you live in the UK for goodness sake, not Ethiopia.

Original poster

Whatnowater · 27/11/2021 17:49

@Chloemol you've not understood the point I was making. Of course I know they have to switch off water to fix the leak but we could have been given even a few mins warning to make life easier. The leak had been reported on Monday apparently so anytime between then and the switch off we could have been warned and made sure we had filled containers with tap water or bought some bottled water to cover us.

Not everyone has family or friends round the corner, or access to a car to be able to go and get water or buy it.

OP posts:

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