Conwy water 90% back on despite overnight bursts

Residents in Conwy county faced a fourth day without water on Sunday as Welsh Water engineers worked tirelessly to restore supplies after a series of burst pipes disrupted the network. The disruption, which began Wednesday following a catastrophic failure at a treatment plant in Dolgarrog, affected an estimated 40,000 homes, forcing the closure of schools and businesses.

By Sunday afternoon, water supplies had been restored to 90% of homes. However, areas including Colwyn Bay, Old Colwyn, Llysfaen, and Llanddulas remained without water, with residents relying on bottled water stations set up across the region.

Robert Mawdesley, a resident of Colwyn Bay, expressed frustration as his home was still without water by midday. “I had a text saying 90% were back on, but ours is fed by a pump in the woods, so we’re still waiting,” he said. Mr. Mawdesley added that he had been resorting to washing in the sink due to the lack of showers.

Brian Tehan, another Colwyn Bay resident, shared how he had prepared for the disruption by filling buckets, bottles, and kettles in advance. “I’m worried for those who didn’t have the chance to prepare,” he said. “It’s especially hard for people living alone who might not have social connections to help them.” Mr. Tehan praised the resilience of the community but acknowledged the strain on distribution centers, where he had been topping up on drinking water.

The burst pipe in Dolgarrog was repaired Friday, but Welsh Water warned it could take up to 48 hours for the system to fully stabilize. Meanwhile, inspectors were out on the ground managing and mitigating additional leaks. Reports of further bursts on Pentywyn Hill in Deganwy and Fairways in Llandudno emerged Saturday evening, with residents requesting sandbags to protect homes and garages from flooding.

Peter Perry, chief executive of Welsh Water, described the incident as a “catastrophic failure” caused by ground movement, which he said could not have been foreseen or prevented. Despite the challenges, the company remained committed to restoring normal services as quickly as possible. Bottled water stations at Eirias Park, Zip World Conwy, Llandudno West Shore car park, and Bodlondeb site continued to operate Sunday, providing essential relief to affected residents.

As the network gradually refilled, bursts and leaks persisted overnight, highlighting the strain on the system. Firefighters also stepped in to assist, helping distribute water to those in need at Eirias Park. While progress has been made, the resilience of the community and the efforts of engineers have been crucial in navigating this unprecedented disruption.