4,000 Homes Without Water

The number of homes affected by disruptions to the water supply has been reduced to about 4,000 from a total of 10,000 over the weekend, NI Water has said.

Many customers in the Fermanagh and Tyrone areas were left without water over the weekend, but work taken by NI Water on Sunday evening has reduced the number affected by over half. Further remedial work is expected to see a further reduction over the course of Monday, but the company said its resources were limited due to ongoing industrial action.

The areas affected include Enniskillen, Lisnaskea, Irvinestown, Fivemiletown, Maguiresbridge, Augher, Clogher, Sixmilecross and Ballygawley.

"Despite the fact the company has in place contingency plans to minimise disruption due to the industrial action, resources available to NI Water, out of normal working hours, remain very limited," a statement said. "As a result service levels have been impacted, in particular in relation to responses to emergency situations.

"Over the weekend, NI Water has mobilised all resources at its disposal to deal with the effects of the action. This meant supplies across the province have been largely maintained.

"Unfortunately with 26,000kms of watermains, 15,000kms of sewers and literally 1000s of pumping stations and treatment works to monitor it was virtually inevitable there will be interruptions to services to our customers.

"NI Water remains on high alert with a Major Incident regime in place."

Customers can visit niwater.com for further advice and updates or call the contact centre on 08457 440088.

(IT/CD)