Residents pour cold water on efficiency drive (From Enfield Independent)

Residents pour cold water on efficiency drive

11:14am Friday 18th February 2005

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Residents have poured scorn on Thames Water's plan to reduce water pressure to homes in some parts of the borough.

The efficiency drive has already been introduced in parts of Edmonton where some people living in flats or tower blocks have seen their supplies run dry or reduced to a trickle.

Gregory Gangee, of Cavendish Close has been affected by the scheme.

He said: "For the last fortnight, the water pressure has been reduced so much that the tower block is getting no water at all.

"We can't even run the shower.

"It is making life impossible and I have told Thames Water if we are not getting the water supply, then we are not going to pay our bills."

Thames Water's project manager, Tony Head, said: "London's water resources are coming under increasing pressure from climate change and a growing population so we are looking at a number of improvements to ensure that supplies are available and delivered efficiently in the future."

A spokeswoman for Thames Water blamed the reduced pressure to Cavendish Close on engineers who turned off a valve in Lea Valley Road earlier last week while repair work was carried out on a separate plant.

She said: "We did not envisage any impact. Then we got reports of low pressure or no water. We have reopened that main and if residents are experiencing low pressure, then it's a case of the water gradually building up again."

In December, Thames Water came under fire for asking an Edmonton primary school to pay out more than £14,000 to install a booster pump or risk losing its water supply.

Annual household water bills are set to rise by £36 in 2005, with further increases likely up to 2010.

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