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Water failure shuts north schools Water failure shuts north schools
(about 1 hour later)
A major water treatment pumps failure has brought disruption to schools in the Inverness area.A major water treatment pumps failure has brought disruption to schools in the Inverness area.
Engineers are restoring supplies to thousands of homes which were cut off after pumps broke down at a Highland treatment works. Engineers are restoring supplies to thousands of homes which were cut off after pumps drawing water into the city's treatment works broke down.
The problem has been fixed but Scottish Water said it would take some time to get supplies back to normal. Scottish Water suspects an electrical fault caused the failure. The problem has been fixed.
However, a spokeswoman for the utility firm urged 34 schools in the affected area not to open. Highland Council said 32 schools in the affected area did not open because of the situation.
Scottish Water staff have been working through the night to return supplies to 37,000 customers around Inverness, Nairn and North Kessock.Scottish Water staff have been working through the night to return supplies to 37,000 customers around Inverness, Nairn and North Kessock.
Sheila Campbell-Lloyd, from Scottish Water, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that the pumps which draw water to feed the Inverness area failed late on Sunday night.Sheila Campbell-Lloyd, from Scottish Water, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that the pumps which draw water to feed the Inverness area failed late on Sunday night.
AFFECTED COMMUNITIES InvernessCullodenSmithtonBallochNairnAldearnNorth KessockAFFECTED COMMUNITIES InvernessCullodenSmithtonBallochNairnAldearnNorth Kessock
She said: "It will take some time for the pipes to fill back up with water, engineers are working out the estimated times and it will be a phased return. She said: "I would like to thank our customers for bearing with us during this unusual problem.
"I'm hopeful that it would be back on by the end of today, certainly the primary schools in those affected areas, we would encourage them not to come out today because they will not have water. "Many will have noticed little if any problem, but others may well be out of supply until later today.
"It's very important that we try to conserve as much water as possible to allow the network and the pipes to fill back up." "Local teams are tankering water to fill our storage tanks as quickly as possible, but we cannot force the water through - we must give it time for the pressure to build and water to reach the more rural areas."
She added: "What I would like to do is ask the 34 schools that are in those areas not to come into school today."
A Highland Council spokesman said the problems would have ramifications for other services too.A Highland Council spokesman said the problems would have ramifications for other services too.
Ms Campbell-Lloyd said emergency water supplies were being delivered to key customers and it was critical that Raigmore Hospital was kept supplied.Ms Campbell-Lloyd said emergency water supplies were being delivered to key customers and it was critical that Raigmore Hospital was kept supplied.
It is also planned to deploy bowsers in the area.It is also planned to deploy bowsers in the area.
Inverness Provost Bill Smith described the matter as serious and had caused significant disruption to schools.
He said: "Schools have closed and this causes difficulties not just to pupils and staff but also parents.
"It seems to me there is a really simple solution and that is back up pumps being in place."