Latest news with #waterservice
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Water service failures compensation payments to increase tenfold
The government has announced the first increase in compensation rates for water service failures in 25 years, effective from July 2. Households in England will see compensation payments from water firms increase tenfold for issues such as low pressure, supply disruptions, or sewer flooding. Severe problems like flooding will now be compensated up to £2,000, while consistent low water pressure will automatically trigger payments of up to £250. This reform aims to better compensate customers for poor service and align payments with inflation, addressing public anger over the water sector's performance. The move is part of broader government efforts to reform the water industry, which include strengthening regulation and tackling sewage pollution.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Households to receive up to £2,000 in compensation for water failures
Households in England will be paid up to £2,000 in compensation for water service failures as part of new efforts to reform the sector. The government announced that compensation payments from water firms, for problems such as low pressure, disruptions to supply or sewer flooding, will increase tenfold from July 2. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the move was the first increase in compensation rates in 25 years in recognition of the 'urgent need' to bring payments in line with inflation and properly compensate households for poor service. Severe issues such as flooding will see customer compensation double from £1,000 to up to £2,000, while households suffering consistent low water pressure will be automatically eligible to receive up to £250, up from the previous compensation rate of £25. Payments will automatically be credited to the accounts of eligible customers with immediate effect. The announcement comes as the government attempts to grapple with the problems engulfing the water sector in the face of high public anger over the degraded and polluted state of rivers, lakes and coasts, rising bills, bosses' bonuses and shareholder payouts. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said that 'too many water companies are letting down their customers – with leaking pipes, poor water supply and low water pressure'. 'The Government is holding water companies to account by making them put money back into people's pockets when they fail their customers.' Defra said it was working with water companies to expand the list of circumstances that would trigger compensation payments. Compensation for when customers are asked to boil their water due to a contaminated supply will come into force later this year, it said. The standards, outlined in the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, set out a baseline for customer service in the water sector and include providing timely restoration of the water supply following an interruption, responding to written complaints and managing the risk of sewer flooding. Action already announced to cut sewage spills and attract investment in the sector includes: strengthening regulation to ensure polluting water bosses who cover up their crimes now face two-year prison sentences; the banning of 'unfair' bonuses for bosses of six polluting water companies; and 81 criminal investigations into sewage pollution. Mike Keil, the chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said: 'Customers expect to be treated fairly when their water company lets them down, so we're delighted the Government has moved at pace to strengthen service standards. 'This should give people peace of mind, they now have far stronger protection from a much broader range of water company service failures – from the slow installation of water meters to the mishandling of debt recovery. 'As well as bolstering payments for thousands of customers, these changes mark an important step towards restoring trust in the water sector, which is at an all-time low.' Ofwat chief executive David Black said it welcomed 'these improvements to guaranteed standards and payments for customers. 'When customers suffer from problems like low pressure, disruptions to supply or sewer flooding, they can experience major stress and inconvenience, and payment amounts must recognise the disruption to their lives when standards are not met. 'These new changes are another way to make sure customers are protected when companies get it wrong.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Buckhead residents without water for over 24 hours as crews work to find leak
Atlanta Department of Watershed Management crews are working to locate a leak that has deprived customers of water service near Nancy Creek Road NW and W. Paces Ferry Road NW. The department first posted a notice about water outages and low water pressure in the area on Sunday night. Crews have continued to inspect all valves in the area, but have not been able to locate any water main breaks. The city offered residents free bottled water on Monday at the tennis courts at 1424 West Paces Ferry Road. You can monitor the Atlanta Watershed X page for the latest updates. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Missing pregnant woman found safe after walking away from Atlanta hospital Man accused of gunning down Georgia Tech student in targeted shooting has turned himself in Trooper injured after fleeing driver crashes into his patrol car and runs away [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Free Malaysia Today
26-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Johor water service provider offers 15% rebate after supply disruption
Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said 42 water tankers, 51 static tanks, and 13,000 cartons of mineral water were deployed to the affected areas. ISKANDAR PUTERI : Johor's water service provider, Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd, is offering a 15% rebate on May water bills to all consumers affected by the recent water supply disruption. Menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the rebate would benefit 155,074 account holders in both the domestic and non-domestic categories, including individual residences, houses of worship, welfare institutions, business premises, and industries. 'I hope this initiative can, to some extent, ease the burden and provide relief to those affected,' he said during the winding-up debate session at the state legislative assembly in Kota Iskandar today. He added that a task force had been established to prevent a repeat of the incident. It was previously reported that the main pump supplying the Sungai Johor water treatment plant had experienced unexpected damage on June 20. The disruption cut off the supply of more than 318 million litres of treated water per day to the Johor Bahru and Iskandar Puteri areas, affecting more than 100,000 consumer accounts. The water supply was fully restored on June 24. Onn Hafiz apologised to all those affected by the disruption. 'I understand this is not a minor issue, especially when it disrupts the daily lives of families and affects the operations of schools, hospitals, and businesses. 'In fact, I personally intervened on May 22 to provide explanations and initiate early actions to resolve the issue impacting the Johor Bahru district,' he said. He said the state government had instructed Ranhill SAJ to repair the damaged water pump immediately and to mobilise all necessary machinery and manpower to alleviate the people's hardship. 'A total of 42 water tankers, 51 static tanks, and 13,000 cartons of mineral water were deployed to the affected areas during that period,' he said.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Boil order issued in Springfield neighborhood
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A boil order is affecting 64 people where a water main was repaired in a Springfield neighborhood, and it's expected to last through the weekend. According to City Water, Light and Power, people affected by this boil order will receive door-to-door notice, including those on Star Avenue, Mars Avenue and Neptune Avenue, which are all parts of Skyline Heights in Springfield. Per regulations, the water main was flushed, and multiple water samples were taken. One set of the samples did not fully meet CWLP water quality standards. Boil order in effect for part of Taylorville Additional water quality sampling will confirm when the water meets all standards and at that time, the boil order will be lifted. As a precaution, people affected are urged to boil all tap water used for drinking or cooking before use until the boil order lifted, which is expected to be on Monday, May 12. Water should be brought to a 'rolling' boil for five minutes and then cooled before use. When the order is lifted, it will be announced by door-to-door notifications to those who are affected. People who want more information on their water service can call the Water Communications Desk at 217-789-2323 ext. 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
