Water company must ensure supply to high rises is not cut while it repairs pipes, says ALG

The Association of London Government has asked Thames Water for a guarantee that its repairs programme will not leave residents of high-rise blocks without water.

The utility company plans to reduce water pressure in north London, Hackney and Hammersmith & Fulham while it repairs ageing pipes.

There are fears that this could mean disrupted supplies for tenants and leaseholders of high rises in those areas and the ALG wants reassurance that it will not.

The group has already criticised Thames Water for failing to provide adequate pressure in north London (HT 27 August, page 12).

At a meeting on Monday 6 September, the ALG proposed that Thames Water pay for all high-rise council blocks to be fitted with water pumps before any reduction in supply.

It has also asked the supplier to minimise any disruption resulting from maintenance work and to agree to a customers’ protocol.

This would involve informing tenants of any planned future works and meeting all resulting costs from the works.

The ALG has asked the water company to respond by 23 September.

Stephen Cowan, deputy chair of the ALG’s housing panel, said: “We believe people are entitled to get their water.

“If Thames Water wants to make changes, it must make sure council tenants don’t suffer.

“We have had robust discussions with them on the recent problems experienced by many Londoners in accessing their water supply and left them in no doubt whatsoever about how we expect them to deal with this problem.”

A Thames Water spokesman said: “It is important to remember that in all the areas that we want to carry out works, problems already exist. We have 1000 miles of ageing pipes and faulty water pressure.

“We will be working with the relevant local authorities to review the water situation in high-rise blocks. If work to pumps and pipes needs to be carried out, we might need to make some changes.

“Our position on costs and funding is a long way apart from the ALG.

“But talks are ongoing and we are reviewing their protocol proposals.”

Source

Housing Today