Rural areas of North face weekend without water

Some people in remote areas of the North may have to wait until early next week before their water supplies are restored, Northern Ireland Water said today.

Diane McKay lives in an isolated part of Co Down near Castlewellan and has been without water since Monday. She has three children aged under three, including a baby aged less than one-year-old.

Her husband farms 300 cattle and has been forced to draw water from a nearby river.

Mrs McKay said: "We have been sick from Christmas Day and from Monday we have had no water in the house. You cannot flush the toilets, you cannot get washed, it is a disaster.

"Banbridge Council said there was nothing more they could do. They sent out eight litres of water on Tuesday."

She said she was concerned the river, which is a lifeline for the animals, would run dry because of the frequent trips to fill up tankers.

Despite Northern Ireland Water (NIW) officials admitting more could be done with greater investment in the piping infrastructure, the Northern Ireland Assembly has ruled out charging for water.

Mrs McKay added: "I am paying my rates here which includes our bins (and water) which have not been emptied.

"If I was polluting the river it would be sorted out within hours never mind days."

NIW insists it is doing all it can to repair an unprecedented number of burst pipes caused by the exceptionally cold weather before Christmas. But most of the extra water it is pouring into the system is disappearing in leaks and business owners are urged to check their premises.

It predicts by tomorrow afternoon, water levels in Belfast should be improved - but that those in remote areas will have to wait longer.

Mrs McKay added: "They won't answer the phone, they put you on hold, there is no information, they just pass you from pillar to post."

Frustrated residents have been forming long queues at emergency water points as the wait for water continues.

Phillip Dempster, 31, from south Belfast, has been suffering from interrupted supplies since the thaw began just after Christmas Day.

"It is just terrible, having to queue for water, it just should not happen," he said.

"I have young children at home with the school holidays, it is just dreadful."

He was at Avoniel Leisure Centre in east Belfast yesterday obtaining emergency supplies. The Scottish Government has given thousands of litres of bottled water.

Some reservoir levels remain low and many burst pipes not yet fixed.

Mr Dempster, an engineer, added: "I was looking forward to a nice relaxed Christmas break. Now I cannot even have a shower. It is just a disgrace and those up at Stormont should be ashamed of themselves."