Loss of water supply
Be prepared
When safe drinking water is unavailable, it’s more than an inconvenience – it’s a health hazard.
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Make sure you have an emergency water supply.
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If you can’t get out to collect water make sure you have an emergency friend who can do it for you.
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If your community has lost water for an extended period your supplier has an obligation to provide alternative sources.
Contact your supplier’s emergency line for more information:
Affinity Water
SES Water
Call 01737 772000
South East Water
Call 0330 3030365
Southern Water
Call 0330 3030368
Thames Water
Call 0800 316 9800
Keeping safe and well during a loss of mains water supply
Stay Hydrated
If you lose your water supply, use bottled water for hot and cold drinks as normal so you stay hydrated.
Signs you aren’t drinking enough fluid and becoming dehydrated include dizziness, dark yellow urine and tiredness. This could put you at risk of getting a urinary tract infection (UTI).
More signs of dehydration and advice on how to treat it from the NHS
Older residents and care homes
Keeping hydrated is vital at any time of life but particularly so when older.
This is because our sense of thirst decreases with age.
But dehydration significantly increases the risk of infections, particularly urinary tract infection (UTIs) and pneumonia, even in winter.
It may be cold outside, but central heating, heavier clothing and bedding can all lead our bodies to lose water that's important to replace.
To help reduce this risk during a water supply outage:
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keep bottled water in easy reach of the older person
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offer flavoured drinks and foods with a high bottled water content such as soup, jelly, sauces, custard and extra milk on cereal
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Provide a full drink when giving medication
For more about dehydration visit the NHS and Age.UK websites.
Further information about winter health for health and care professionals
Baby formula
Always boil bottled water to at least 70°C to make up baby formula.
Let the formula solution cool before you give it to your baby.
The bottled water supplied by your water company is safe to use for making up baby formula but not all shop brands are suitable.
Check the label on shop brands to make sure they have no more than 200 milligrams (mg) a litre of sodium (Na) and no more than 250 mg a litre of sulphate (SO4).
Hygiene
In the event of a water outage:
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Wash hands thoroughly with soap and bottled water for 20 seconds before thoroughly drying
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Clean down kitchen surfaces with boiled or bottled water
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Use bottled water to brush your teeth
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Use waste water which you can collect in a bowl to flush toilets.
Free priority services register for vulnerable residents
Sometimes you, or someone you know, may need a bit of additional assistance, especially in the event of a water shortage. Water companies offer a range of free priority services to help.
Get extra support when it is needed most by signing your water company's free priority services register.
Who can receive extra support?
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If you rely on medical equipment
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If you have refrigerated medicines
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If you have a serious or chronic illness
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If you have a disability
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If you or someone you care for is living with dementia
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If you are of pensionable age
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If you have children under five in your household
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If you need extra support for a short time period (e.g. If you are recovering from medical treatment
Watch this video to find out about the free support available.
For further information and to sign up to a priority services register visit your water company's website