Southern Water has apologised to customers in the Waterside, New Forest area (postcodes areas SO40 and SO45) of Southampton who are likely to experience either low pressure or a loss of water supply.

The water company said in a statement issued at 7.30pm last night the problem was due to Storm Ciarán’s unprecedented impact on the water quality and levels of the River Test, close to its Testwood Water Supply Works.

The statement said:

“This has made it extremely difficult for us to abstract water and treat it for drinking water, and has led to a temporary site shutdown. As a result, we are struggling to fill reservoirs in some areas of the southern Hampshire areas and northern areas of the Isle of Wight.

“Our teams are working around the clock to get our Testwood site back working as soon as possible, as stormwater levels fall and water quality improves.”

Other measures outlined by Southern Water include:

• Moving water around the network to where it is needed most, to minimise disruption
• Delivering bottled water to customers on its priority services register as a precaution
• Setting up bottled water stations at key sites
• Working closely with key community partners to ensure critical infrastructure is supported.

Southern Water has asked anyone concerned or who is a vulnerable customer and need access to bottled water as a priority, to call the company on 0330 303 0368. 

“We’ll be keeping the website and our social media channels up to date, so please check back regularly for current information,” the statement said.