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Be Ready

Water supply interruptions or outages

A dripping tap.

We need water for many reasons: drinking, washing hands, food preparation (including preparing baby formula), bathing and showering, looking after pets, washing dishes and clothes, and flushing the toilet. Interruptions to water supply (or ‘outages’) occur for many reasons, ranging from scheduled maintenance to burst water mains. These events are usually over quickly with minimal impact, however longer water supply outages occasionally happen and can be disruptive and distressing. Your water company is the best source of information if this happens.

Who is most at risk?

We all could become unwell from lack of drinking water and dehydration, however some people may be more impacted by an interruption to their water supply. Some of the groups who may be most at risk are:

  • People who use more water due to a medical condition.
  • Babies and young children.
  • Older adults.
  • People with long term health conditions.

Actions to take to prepare for water outages

  • If you’re eligible, sign up to your water supplier’s Priority Service Register to let them know that you need additional support, including when there is an interruption to your supply. Ask anyone you provide care for if they are registered. 
  • If you or a member of your household rely on a medical device that needs water to function, talk to your care team to make a plan for what to do if there is a water outage. 
  • Keep some bottled water at home to meet your essential needs during an emergency. 3 litres of drinking water per person per day for 3 days is recommended. Additional water might be needed to make up baby formula, for medical devices and for pets.
  • Bottled water is the safest way to prepare for water outages. However, if you don’t have space to store any bottled water, boiling or adding water purification tablets to alternative sources of water can help make it safer to drink in an emergency. Water purification tablets are widely available online, as well as from pharmacies and outdoor / camping retailers. Always follow instructions on the product label as the tablets come in different strengths. Most alternative water sources will also need to be filtered before using the tablets. 
  • If you have an outside area, consider having a water/rain butt to collect water. Do not drink this water as it could contain bacteria or disease. This water can be used for flushing toilets or watering plants.

Actions to take during a water outage

  • Check your water provider’s website regarding service in your area, and to see if you can pick up alternative sources of water. If you are on the Priority Services Register, your water company will arrange alternative supplies for you. If you believe you are registered but have not received support, contact your water company as soon as possible.
  • Whilst there is no mains water supply, use alternative water supplies such as bottled water solely for drinking, washing your hands and food preparation. There are other fluids which are safe to drink including soft and fizzy drinks that can be stored in a cupboard. However do not drink milk or fresh fruit juice that smells as though it has gone off.
  • If you need to use baby formula, ready-made or ready-to-feed formula is the safest option, as you may not be able to boil water or sterilise bottles during an emergency. Powdered formula is not sterile and should only be prepared using freshly boiled water. Bottled water is not usually recommended for making up formula milk feeds. This is because it’s not sterile and may contain too much salt (sodium) or sulphate. But in rare circumstances, such as when drinking water is unavailable or has been contaminated, you can use still bottled water to make up formula feeds. Check the label to ensure it does not have more than 200 mg per litre (mg/L) of sodium or 250 mg/L of sulphate. It should be boiled (to sterilise) and allowed to cool for no more than 30 minutes. The NHS provides advice on making up baby formula.
  • To wash your hands, fill a large clean bowl like a washing up bowl with water and add some soap or a household disinfectant. Keeping water usage to a minimum will prolong alternative sources of water such as water tanks. 
  • Check to see if others, particularly any members of your community who might need extra support, are also without water. If they are, you could offer to provide assistance such as collecting bottled water. You could also suggest they sign up to the Priority Services Register.

Actions to take after a water outage

After a water outage it is common to experience discoloured water. Try running the cold tap nearest to your stopcock (which is usually under your kitchen sink) for a while to see if it clears the discolouration. Contact your water provider if you continue to have problems with your water supply.

Further information and resources

Ofwat provides information on what communication you should expect to receive from your water company in the case of an interruption to water supply. 

CCW, the voice for water consumers in England and Wales, provides answers to frequently asked questions for household customers. 

The Scottish Water website allows customers to see the status of the supply in their area and to report any problems with water supply.

In Northern Ireland, NI Water provides information on supply issues and customer advice.

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