An article in the Financial Times this weekend is warning that a single system failure at Thames Water Coppermills treatment works could cut supply for millions of customers in London.
The leading financial publication cites “people with knowledge of the site” as saying that “mass evacuations, with the military on standby” could be triggered in the event of a failure at the “crumbling” works.
It also refers to “former staff members” who had “worked closely” on plans for the site as saying that the water company had been aware of the issues “for at least a decade.”
The article in the Financial Times also refers to comments made by Sir John Cunliffe, Chair of the Independent Water Commission which accompanied the Commission’s final report about the Coppermills plant:
“A couple of weeks ago I visited a much more modern pumping engine hall, just over 50 years old filled with electric pumps that supply drinking water for one third of Londoners. It is a single point of failure for the water supply of all of Canary Wharf. And it is on its last legs. A £400m project to replace the entire facility has finally been approved and work is about to begin on the replacement. Given the limited space and need to keep the facility operating, it is a hugely complex project that will take at least 7 years.”
The styory made the front page of the newspaper at the weekend.
Click here to access the Financial Times article online
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