Storm Dennis: Monmouth stockpiles bottled water after floods hit treatment plant
Welsh Water has stockpiled bottled water in Monmouthshire after the River Wye's levels reached 23ft high.
Tuesday 18 February 2020 18:07, UK
A water treatment plant in Monmouth has flooded, leading to worries over the supply of water in the Welsh town.
Welsh Water has asked residents to reduce their usage, with the effects of Storm Dennis still being felt in the town.
Bottled water has been stockpiled in Monmouth, in case reserves run out and the area's supply cannot be restored.
Due to the huge floods, Welsh Water staff have not been able to reach the treatment plant which has lost power.
A spokesperson for Welsh Water said: "Due to the unprecedented flooding in the Monmouth area, we are unable to access our water treatment works in Mayhill.
"Despite the measures we put in place, the site has flooded and there is currently no power at the site.
"As a result, we have limited storage of drinking water until we're able to access and restart the treatment works.
"We are therefore asking customers in Monmouth Town, Osbaston, Wyesham, Manson, Overmonnow, The Kymin and Kings Fee to reduce their water use until further notice.
"Reducing water use now will ensure that we can restore full supplies as quickly as possible once we can access our site.
"We have been maintaining water supplies using tankers to put more water into our network in the area. This is continuing but due to severe flooding and road closures, it is proving exceptionally difficult to move around the area.
"Our teams have been working overnight and continue to do their utmost to ensure supplies to customers."
As of 4pm on Tuesday, two severe flood warnings were in place in the town, after the River Wye reached a record high in the heavy rains.