June and July 2007 saw some of the worst flooding on record in the UK, and many households have been affected by these weather conditions. Insurance companies were hit by millions of pounds worth of claims as the result of severe damage caused to many homes in certain areas of the UK. However, it was not just those that sustained damage to their homes and belongings that were affected – many homes also found themselves without drinkable water for nearly three weeks following the floods when a treatment plant was closed down.
The homes affected were in the Gloucestershire area, and around 350,000 homes served by Severn Trent Water were affected by the treatment plant closure. The water company had put aside funds to compensation for those affected by the loss of service, but customers are now seething after being told that none of them will be entitled to compensation following the loss of water facilities.
Although customers are normally entitled to compensation as a result of loss of water due to supply failures, Severn Trent Water has stated that on this occasion the rules do not apply, and claim that unprecedented weather conditions were to blame for the situation. The water giant has therefore decided that it will not be paying out any compensation to those affected by the flooding, and instead will donate £3.5 million to areas that have been hardest hit by the recent flooding and weather.
Tony Wray, the Managing Director of Severn Trent Water, stated: ‘Many communities have suffered significantly. We believe that a contribution such as this will be of long-term benefit to all in the community.’
However, a customer that was affected by the loss of service stated: ‘We’ve had no water and they are giving us no compensation, despite massive profits. It’s because the company has not been investing in new sewer systems that this has been so much worse than it needed to be.’
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