Supply was interrupted due to a loss of power at some of the utility’s sites and also due to debris, including fallen trees, on equipment needed to treat and continually supply the network.
Until power is fully restored, we are carrying out temporary measures to support the supply network for our customers. On Tuesday evening, supplies were restored to the majority of customers in including Braemar, Aberchirder, Lumsden, Rhynie, Fortingall & Fearnan.
As of 11.00pm on Monday around 1,400 properties were still without a water supply, in rural areas of Lumphanan, Torphins and Alford. Network operations were ongoing through the night to help restore water and we aim to have all customer supplies restored in the morning.
Since Friday night Scottish Water has been working around-the-clock to restore water supply as quickly as possible. Work in some areas has been hampered by continued loss of power and difficulty in accessing some sites due to ongoing weather conditions or blocked access routes.
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At the peak of the severe weather incident around 18,000 properties experienced supply issues, with 16,600 customers now back in supply. Scottish Water is part of a multi-agency team, including local councils and power companies, to resolve these issues.
Portable generators and booster pumps have been and continue to be transported to Scottish Water sites with supply issues. The utility has also been tankering water to a number of areas to keep customers supplied or help resume supply to that area.
Kes Juskowiak, Water Operations General Manager at Scottish Water, said: "Every effort is being made to restore supply to all our customers left without water as a result of Storm Arwen – one of the most significant weather events we have experienced in decades.
"We know some customers have been without water for some time now and how vital to our everyday lives water is. That is why we are working round the clock to get issues resolved as quickly as possible.
"Most of the remaining issues are in pockets of rural, and in some cases very remote, areas where we have fewer pipes and less options to tanker water and rely on a power supply to get water supply restored. We continue to source and set up mobile generators at sites.
"We apologise to customers and thank them for their patience whilst we work to restore supplies as quickly as possible. They can rest assured that we are working day and night to get them back in supply."
Scottish Water is advising customers they may experience no water, low/intermittent pressure or discoloured water whilst the supply is restored and returns to normal.
The utility is making arrangements for alternative water supplies to impacted customers including bottled water handout stations in some areas. For information on the area you live or work in please go to: www.scottishwater.co.uk/in-your-area/latest-in-your-area.
Scottish Water is reaching out to all customers on its Priority Services Register who may be impacted to see if additional support is required. Customers can contact Scottish Water 24/7 on 0800 077 8778 or via its social media sites.
Scottish Water will continue to update customers via its social media channels and website on this ongoing situation.
