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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Two-week water wait in flood zone | Two-week water wait in flood zone |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Some 350,000 people in Gloucestershire could be without mains water for two weeks after a water treatment plant was deluged by the swollen River Severn. | Some 350,000 people in Gloucestershire could be without mains water for two weeks after a water treatment plant was deluged by the swollen River Severn. |
| Residents have complained that scores of Severn Trent Water bowsers are already running dry. | Residents have complained that scores of Severn Trent Water bowsers are already running dry. |
| Severn Trent has vowed to refill them up to five times a day and the Army has been drafted in to provide four million litres of bottled water. | Severn Trent has vowed to refill them up to five times a day and the Army has been drafted in to provide four million litres of bottled water. |
| Some 1,400 portable toilets are also being provided for the most vulnerable. | Some 1,400 portable toilets are also being provided for the most vulnerable. |
| Gloucestershire County Council has purchased 500 portable toilets and 900 portable potties for use by elderly and vulnerable people, particularly those in care homes. | Gloucestershire County Council has purchased 500 portable toilets and 900 portable potties for use by elderly and vulnerable people, particularly those in care homes. |
| 'Common sense' | 'Common sense' |
| Police said some people had been maliciously emptying bowsers, while others had been selling bowser water. | Police said some people had been maliciously emptying bowsers, while others had been selling bowser water. |
| Speaking at a news conference, Chief Constable Tim Brain said there had been some incidences of disorder and people acting selfishly. | |
| "There will be no exceptions if we find people committing crime and disorder," he said. | "There will be no exceptions if we find people committing crime and disorder," he said. |
| We have 60 tankers working round-the-clock so the situation should improve Severn Trent spokesman | We have 60 tankers working round-the-clock so the situation should improve Severn Trent spokesman |
| "Normal daily use (of water) is not a possibility at the moment. We need to be patient and use our common sense." | "Normal daily use (of water) is not a possibility at the moment. We need to be patient and use our common sense." |
| Severn Trent has drawn up new plans to distribute water to the bowsers. | |
| It is using large tankers to bring water to five distribution hubs before it is transported to smaller tankers which will ferry it to the bowsers. | It is using large tankers to bring water to five distribution hubs before it is transported to smaller tankers which will ferry it to the bowsers. |
| A Severn Trent spokesman said: "We have 926 bowsers out and a further 130 are in the process of being cleaned ready for use. | A Severn Trent spokesman said: "We have 926 bowsers out and a further 130 are in the process of being cleaned ready for use. |
| "We are aiming to do four or five refills per day but one of these can be emptied in less than half an hour if people fill up large containers. | "We are aiming to do four or five refills per day but one of these can be emptied in less than half an hour if people fill up large containers. |
| "We have 60 tankers working around-the-clock so the situation should improve. | "We have 60 tankers working around-the-clock so the situation should improve. |
| "We have four million litres of bottled water to distribute by the Army on Wednesday and have bought another five-and-a-half million litres for Thursday. | "We have four million litres of bottled water to distribute by the Army on Wednesday and have bought another five-and-a-half million litres for Thursday. |
| "Our two priorities are to provide temporary supplies for people and to get the treatment works running again." | "Our two priorities are to provide temporary supplies for people and to get the treatment works running again." |
| Pumping equipment | Pumping equipment |
| Large underground tanks at the flooded Mythe Water Treatment Centre have been pumped out and engineers are assessing the damage caused to the station. | |
| It is believed it could be up to two weeks before the centre is fully operational again. | It is believed it could be up to two weeks before the centre is fully operational again. |
| Severn Trent Water said eight million litres of water had been pumped out of the basement of the plant between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning using high volume pumping equipment. | Severn Trent Water said eight million litres of water had been pumped out of the basement of the plant between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning using high volume pumping equipment. |
| "A limited amount of electrical power has been restored at the site," said a spokesman. | "A limited amount of electrical power has been restored at the site," said a spokesman. |
| "Hopefully we will have a full understanding of the problem by the end of Wednesday. | "Hopefully we will have a full understanding of the problem by the end of Wednesday. |
| "We are also looking at other sources of supply." | "We are also looking at other sources of supply." |
| Baby wipes | |
| Long queues snaked around supermarket car parks on Wednesday as people queued for their water rations. | |
| Many queuing insisted losing their water supply for two weeks was not a "massive problem" and said it had helped foster a "wartime spirit". | |
| Mother-of-two Simone Davies, 28, said her family was coping quite well in the circumstances. | |
| "We're getting through it at the moment," she said. | |
| "I've been buying the kids bottles of Coke and juice drinks and we're using baby wipes to wash with. | |
| "We've also put a bin outside to collect rainwater to flush the toilet with but it's the toilet that really is the worst thing. | |
| "But this is now almost becoming part of our daily routine." |