Water supplies in Chichester disrupted during essential maintenance
Water supplies in Chichester were disrupted during essential maintenance undertaken by Portsmouth Water.
The work affected customers in Broad Road, Hambrook, postcode area PO18 8, on Wednesday, October 28.
Portsmouth Water said supplies would be turned off for a maximum of seven hours, with the interruption beginning at 9am.
Before the work began, the company advised residents to store enough tap water to meet their drinking needs during the shutdown.
Households with a cold-water storage cistern were told it should provide sufficient reserves for normal sanitary requirements, such as flushing toilets, provided water was used sensibly. Central heating systems were not expected to be affected.
Residents were also advised not to use water-dependent appliances, including washing machines and dishwashers, during the interruption.
A spokesperson for Portsmouth Water said: “Slight discoloration of the water may occur when the supply is restored so we would recommend checking that the water is clear before using washing machines or other appliances. We would in any case advise that water using appliances (washing machines, dishwashers etc.) should not be used during the shutdown period.
“If you do experience any discolouration of the water supply, this is normal following such events and poses no health risk to the water supply system. To address this, we would recommend you run your cold kitchen tap for 10 minutes or until clear. For further guidance about this, please refer to our water quality information page at portsmouthwater.co.uk/water-quality/
“We apologise for any noise or inconvenience that our activities may cause you but we will endeavour to keep this to a minimum and thank you for your patience whilst we undertake these essential works.
“If your water supply does not return to normal after we restore the supply, please contact us on 023 9247 7999. Our staff are available on this number 24 hours a day to provide further advice or if necessary, arrange for a company representative or plumber to call.
"They will rectify any problem which is found to be due to this interruption to supply, free of charge.”