United Utilities lifts boiling water advice in parts of Chorley

It is expected that over the next week more areas should have the water warning lifted. For all other customers, including all parts of Fylde borough, the “boil water” advice remains in place until further notice.

Householders in those areas can resume using tap water “with immediate effect” said a company statement.

Gary Dixon, customer services director at United Utilities, said: “We’re working tirelessly to ensure we can lift the boil notice for our customer as quickly as possible and we are grateful for their ongoing patience and understanding”.

“I will continue to pay close attention to the issue until it is fully resolved”.

“In due course I expect United Utilities to give a full account of what went wrong and to hear how it will be prevented in the future”.

Wyre and Preston North MP, Ben Wallace who has visited the Franklaw Water Treatment Works at Catterall where investigations have been centred, said he wanted more clarity on how people affected by the crisis would be compensated.

“The lifting of the boil water notice only applies in certain postcode areas”.

The firm has been carrying out daily tests after 2,500 miles of pipeline was affected.

On Friday, FTSE 100-listed United Utilities said it has started the process to lift the boil water advice in some specific parts of Lancashire.

Experts from UU, PHE and the Drinking Water Inspectorate will meet tomorrow to discuss whether to lift the alert, possibly on an area-by-area basis.

Those customers have been boiling water for more than three weeks as the company struggles to rid its water supply of the bug, causing it to install several ultra violet rigs which were capable of killing the last remaining traces of the bug, which has been dwindling since it was discovered, according to the company.

South Ribble MP Seema Kennedy criticised United Utilities for delays in informing customers when their supply will be safe to drink and demanded clarity about the date for restoration of the water supply.

“When it comes to our local businesses United Utilities need to get out on the ground and talk to businesses in distress to discover what can be done to minimise the impact on trade”.