Water shortage chaos continues

The Northern Ireland misery over water shortages has spread to the rest of the UK with thousands of homes and businesses left without water

It seems water shortage is not just a problem for the developing world after the crisis in Northern Ireland over Christmas meant thousands were left without running water.

Former water boss, Chris Mellor has claimed that he chaos was a ‘disaster waiting to happen’ after managers with no experience of the industry were appointed to run Northern Ireland Water.

‘This is what happens when you get rid of the directors at the top of NIW, and replace them with people who have no experience of running a water utility,’ he said.

It's been reported that thousands of homes in Northern Ireland have been reduced to using any liquids available to flush their toilets - including bottles of lemonade - as the crisis deepens after weeks without running water.

But it is not just Northern Ireland that has been struggling with the water shortage, as people across the UK have been left without water, well into the New Year.

Mr Smith and his partner from Worcester claimed they had to resort to melting snow in saucepans over a single gas stove in order to bath their children and wash their clothes after five days without water.

‘It’s so frustrating that there is absolutely nobody to contact,’ said Mr Smith. ‘I repeatedly called the emergency hotline but only ever received the unobtainable tone.’

The recent water-related chaos across Britain over the last few weeks also highlights the terrible plight experienced on a constant basis in developing countries around the world.

International NGO, WaterAid work hard to transform lives in the world’s poorest communities by improving access to safe water but Priya Kaler, Engagement and Communications Manager for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, told Marie Claire after a recent trip to India: ‘In our visits to the slums we saw children growing up without clean water and sanitation, surrounded by disease-ridden sewage.’

‘In India, only 28 per cent of the population have access to sanitation,’ said Ruth Jackson, an human resources manager for Whitbread, who have been supporting the charity. ‘For WaterAid this is not just about putting in taps and toilets, it is about changing lives.’

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