Thames Water to ‘Work Through the Night’ to Fix Guildford’s Water Supply

Published on: 30 Nov, 2022
Updated on: 2 Dec, 2022

Thames Water says it will be “working through the night” to restore a water supply to Guildford homes, following problems at Ladymead Water Treatment Works.

The problem has now, it has been reported been fixed and water supply should start to return to normal over the next 24 hours.

The heading on the Thames Water website listed the following postcodes: GU1, GU2, GU3, GU4, GU5 but it is not believed that all parts of those postcode areas are affected.

In the town cafes are reported to have closed and some night classes cancelled.

The postcodes within which water supply might have been affected are: GU1, GU2, GU3, GU4, and GU5.

The statement on TW website reads: “Our team is making progress on repairs, and we expect that supplies will be returning through tomorrow. We’re really sorry if you’ve had low pressure or no water today.

“We’re still running our bottled water station at Guildford Spectrum in Parkway GU1 1UP, and expect this to be open until 9pm. We’re planning to open two sites tomorrow as a precaution.

“If you’ve driven to our bottled water station, we can load water into your vehicle. It’s for essential use, like drinking, cooking and hand washing, so please be considerate and don’t take more than you need.

“If you have a neighbour who’s unable to get to the site, please let us know and we’ll do our best to make sure our limited supplies are fairly handed out.”

One Dragon reader wrote in to say: “It’s been worse in the south where there has been no water since early this morning, apparently. Portaloos have been distributed.

“I’ve filled my kettle, just in case.”

Adding to the website statement a Thames Water spokesperson said: “We’d like to apologise to customers across the Guildford area who have no water or low pressure today. We’re pleased to say that we’ve fixed a technical issue at Ladymead treatment works and water supply should start to return to normal over the next 24 hours.

He explained that as a precaution an additional bottled water station had been set up at the Artington Park and Ride, where local people can pick up any supplies they need. Opening times can be found on the TW website.

He continued: “In addition, we’ve delivered water to customers who have pre-registered with us as having special requirements, such as being medically reliant on water. We’ve also supplied water to 14 care homes in the area.”

This article will be updated as more information is received.

Responses to Thames Water to ‘Work Through the Night’ to Fix Guildford’s Water Supply

Robert Douglas Reply

November 30, 2022 at 6:52 pm

Setting up a water station in Guildford Spectrum is no help to those of us who live in the villages also affected by the lack of water, Shalford, Chilworth, Bramley and Wonersh, for example.
Jim Allen Reply

November 30, 2022 at 7:10 pm

For those who know me and my previous comments…

I told you so!
Sara Tokunaga Reply

November 30, 2022 at 10:30 pm

Thames Water have been very poor in keeping people informed about what has been happening. I was meant to be kept updated by text, but didn’t receive any messages.

I first reported that I had no water at 6.40am. I had to telephone twice more during the day to try to get information – in all over one and a half hours on the phone. Setting up one water station at Spectrum was useless for those who didn’t have a car and didn’t live in the GU1 area.

I was able to buy one 500ml bottle of water from my local shop and I am still waiting for the Thames Water promised delivery of water – it is now 10.27pm. Thames Water has totally failed its customers.
- S Callanan Reply
  
  December 2, 2022 at 12:12 pm
  
  So when did Ms Tokunaga’s area actually lose supply? Presumably some time before she reported it at 6.40am. Will TW tell us? Apart from anything else there’s the question of compensation from the water company to be considered.
Jane Couch Reply

December 1, 2022 at 11:35 am

Still no water in our road and adjacent in GU2, apparently now due to an airlock. Advice to clear this from Guildford Borough Council by letting the water run until it clears beggars belief.

Very frustrating to find a message online this morning on Thames Water site saying that most people now had at least low water pressure!

Not being able to flush the loo for 30 hours is not pleasant.

Thames Water doesn’t live in the real world as far as the elderly in particular are concerned. Many are not registered as having urgent need for water, are unable to get in a car to get the bottled water provided outside of the town centre and do not have access to online information and may not be up to spending 25 minutes on the phone as I experienced this morning.

It was only at this point that TW seemed to be aware that some of us still have an issue. How about a bit of door-to-door when the problem has gone on this long? Even knocking on a couple of doors per street might provide more awareness.
M Durant Reply

December 1, 2022 at 7:33 pm

If you have been without water and you have not been kept informed with an advance warning I think you can ask for compensation, people affected might want to double check on this.

I did warn in my previous comment in the summer that friends of mine in Guildford had no water for a while.
D G Doig Reply

December 3, 2022 at 6:33 pm

I told Thames Water about a leak in New Road Chilworth on November 22. They added it to their “live leaks” website page the next day and allocated it a job number. Since, they have done precisely nothing.

I have emailed them four times but they do not reply. I telephoned them three days in a row. I have spent almost two hours waiting and talking to call handlers who know and do nothing.

Yesterday I was told workmen were on their way, it was a lie. This is the seventh leak from exactly the same spot in the past three years. The water is damaging my house but there is no one at Thames Water who cares or can help.

I see elsewhere our Guildford MP thinks Thames Water are great!

Editor’s response: this comment has been forwarded to Thames Water.