Water supply switch ‘possible’

Wednesday 25th February 2009, 12:59PM GMT.

tap_water1Oswestry people could set a national precedent if they win their long running fight to get their water from the Welsh hills.

Borough councillors heard last night there was a chance that householders could get their wish of a change of water supply from Severn Trent but only if there was enough public support.

United Utilities, which takes Lake Vyrnwy water to the north west, has told the council it would be interested in talks over future water supply.

Severn Trent’s switching of the area’s water supply from the Welsh hills to the River Severn some years ago sparked outrage in Oswestry.

There have been constant complaints from householders since then and last year Severn Trent admitted it was putting too much chlorine in the water. It has since altered the amount and says the situation has stabilised.

But Councillor John Evans told last night’s Oswestry Borough Council scrutiny committee that the water quality was still poor.

“There are still complaints – no-one says the water is good,” he said.

“United Utilities is keen to offer its services to the people of Oswestry but until those people start phoning and moaning we are going to get nowhere,” he added.

A letter from United Utilities to the council said a change of boundary from Severn Trent to them on such a big scale was unprecedented.

But the company was willing to discuss it.


  1. 2
    Jazzy

    Best move ever! Where do we sign up??

    Report abuse

  2. 3
    Lottie

    they get my support, the water has tasted disguisting since they switched

    Report abuse

  3. 4
    Dave M

    Right. got a pen, point me to the public support list.

    Report abuse

  4. 5
    Mags

    Great News! Where do we sign up?

    Report abuse

  5. 6
    sally barrett

    good on them, severn trent deserve to loose customers after their price hikes and accountancy practices

    Report abuse

  6. 7
    Tory Boy

    thanks to the conservatives there is competion in the privatised system and people have a CHOICE, thats the best for efficiency and customers

    Report abuse

  7. 8
    paullo

    tory boy you muppet it was the tories who handed severn trent a monopoly, for thickos like you who havent played the game that means the market is rigged in their favour there is no competition there is market failure and higher than neccessary prices and poor quality as a result

    the conservatives privatisations are a failure

    Report abuse

  8. 9
    jake the snake

    its true the privatisation of the water industry by conservatives was a mistake, even Daniel Kazywiski the tory mp seems to have come out in favour of nationalised industries now and obviously the banking crisis shows us the merits

    Report abuse

  9. 10
    monkey

    Tory boy tell me where the choice on water is its severn trent or bottled??????

    Report abuse

  10. 11
    devon salopian

    all our water is now passed by management!!

    Report abuse



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