Perhaps some of the insurance companies who, one would hope, have a little leverage over Severn Trent may take proceedings against the shareholders of Severn Trent as a means of recouping their losses rather than increased premiums in subsequent years? If Severn Trent take a big hit in the courts then perhaps we shall see investment in infrastructure rather than throwing money at shareholders who frankly neither deserve nor warrant such hand outs? Whereas efficiency will always generate greater profit it is prudent always to spend a little extra on spreading the load across a greater infrastructure - how long is it going to take business and politics to see this? It is beneficial to both the shareholding and the consumer....
Chas, gloucester, glos
Maybe Mike D who is sitting in Leicester with, I assume, running water in a nice clean house would like to come to Gloucester and try living here.
Severn Trent CLOSED waterworks and concentrated their water treatment works that supplies water to over 300,000 people in one place. If Mythe fails for ANY reason - flooding, power failure, terrorist atttack etc. then they have NO fall back apart from a bowser system that does not work.
That is what is annoying people - not that Mythe flooded because that could be counted as an unseen event - but that Severn Trent have NO spare capacity and no proper contingency plans. They have LOTS of money to give away but apparently none to spend keeping any redundancy in their systems.
Kirsty S, Cheltenham,
Everybody effected by sewage damage should note that you can claim against the water companies for flood damage instead of your home insurance.
Why should you loose out due to consistantly short sighted bad planning by the water companies - who's interests rest with making profit over what is best for the community which they supply.
Don't expect a water company anywhere in the UK to do it's best against flooding - where I live, they wouldn't even open sluice gates to relieve flood risks! Reason: It would harm the fishing season and the Environment Agency's "Fair" rating they gave to the biological quality of the areas rivers! Result: SEVERE FLOODING.
The local pumping station to me was left full and dysfunctional without being emptied during the flood whilst telling consumers on the telephone enquiry lines that they were doing everything that they can!.... I don't think so!!! Watch how they will now ask the government for extra funding ????
Martin Sansone, Lincoln,
Actually Noah of Swindon - that's just the kind of pathetic attitude that allows situations like this to exist! Companies such as Trent Water and respective governing bodies are grossly negligent through cost-cutting and concentration on ever higher profits! And as long as the good old British public with their 'stiff upper lip' and gallant stoicism make excuses for this gross negligence - situations like this will just continue!! What about the thousands of people who - as well as living with flooded homes, and no running water - now no longer have an income? Have you given a donation to the Red Cross or anything more substantial than criticize we who are having to exist through this time? The louder the complaints - the more chance there is of more efficient services! And as Severn Trent deemed it necessary to advertise their grossly inflated profits of £300million today - obviously they are money-driven - so? - Hit them in their pockets with demands for compensation!
L C Gillatt, CHELTENHAM, UK
What would happen if everyone in Gloucestershire refused to pay our water rates, until Severn Trent can prove to us it will not happen again? What's the worse they could do, turn our water off for non payment.
One bowser for nearly 50+ houses, about one small bowser for about 150-200 people.
We've had no water in our bowser for over 24 hours now. To start off with, it was filled twice a day, and it was empty within an hour, now the new improved mini tanker idea is worse. A couple of bottles of water is only just enough for a small family to drink. But what about hygiene???
While driving around Gloucestershire today, while working, I've only seen one small tanker, in 9 hours!!!
Could Severn Trent do any worse... I doubt it!
I guess they will make a nice profit out of there rubbish collection side ( aka Biffa), with all the skips that the area will need.
Siran, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
These companies have only one aim - to make money, which is why privatising our infrastructure was always going to cause problems. Private companies will always take risks with business continuity planning and disaster recovery if it puts their profits at risk. The result is we have unacceptable single points of failure across our critical utilities. Worse still, the government was warned several years ago as a result of previous flooding.
Danny, Cheltenham, GLOS
Are the water companies to blame?
Is anyone to Blame?
As I understand it if we had drainage to protect from 100 year storms we would still of had problems.
Stephen A, needs to get real, and note that Severn Trent has one of the cheapest water charges, does he expect water older than 48 hours, normally, its stale.
That water works has never before had this problem, I hope he always gets thing right in his job, and can forsee all possible problems.
Mike D, Leicester, leicester
I'm of the opinion that the recent events around gloucestershire are not the fault of Severn Trent, how is it their fault that Mother Nature is stamping her authority. I currently pay rates, work all day Monday to Friday and live on my own and use far less water than a family of 4 but I do not expect anything by way of compensation for the freak events. In fact I think it is quite disgusting that in a time of crisis we all look immediately for financial compensation rather than helping each other and the company by being patient and considerate.
However given the profits they are making surely it would be wise to plough some of those profits back into the business - fixing leaking pipes, clearing silted drains, etc, etc.
I live in Quedgeley, Tesco's has had plenty of free bottled water, I've found bowsers with water for washing, etc, I have basically been inconvenienced for a couple of weeks - there are a great number of people that would rather be in my situation than theirs.
Steve, Quedgeley, Glos,
Why have a go at at water companies because they make a profit? They did not cause the floods. Tesco made over 2£Billion,do we blame them for obesity? In hindesite the water co's could have built the controls above water flood levels,which they probably will now do. It is easy to be wise after events. Did anyone notice that it started raining the day the latest potter book was released?
Flat Roofer, Llandrindod Wells, Radnor County
Severn Trent should indeed be made to rebate every single household that has lost its water suply in these floods. The £1.1 billion profit they have made in recent years is nothing short of obscene considereing the amount of water lost through leaks.
Nigel, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Perhaps some of the insurance companies who, one would hope, have a little leverage over Severn Trent may take proceedings against the shareholders of Severn Trent as a means of recouping their losses rather than increased premiums in subsequent years? If Severn Trent take a big hit in the courts then perhaps we shall see investment in infrastructure rather than throwing money at shareholders who frankly neither deserve nor warrant such hand outs? Whereas efficiency will always generate greater profit it is prudent always to spend a little extra on spreading the load across a greater infrastructure - how long is it going to take business and politics to see this? It is beneficial to both the shareholding and the consumer....
Chas, gloucester, glos
Maybe Mike D who is sitting in Leicester with, I assume, running water in a nice clean house would like to come to Gloucester and try living here.
Severn Trent CLOSED waterworks and concentrated their water treatment works that supplies water to over 300,000 people in one place. If Mythe fails for ANY reason - flooding, power failure, terrorist atttack etc. then they have NO fall back apart from a bowser system that does not work.
That is what is annoying people - not that Mythe flooded because that could be counted as an unseen event - but that Severn Trent have NO spare capacity and no proper contingency plans. They have LOTS of money to give away but apparently none to spend keeping any redundancy in their systems.
Kirsty S, Cheltenham,
Everybody effected by sewage damage should note that you can claim against the water companies for flood damage instead of your home insurance.
Why should you loose out due to consistantly short sighted bad planning by the water companies - who's interests rest with making profit over what is best for the community which they supply.
Don't expect a water company anywhere in the UK to do it's best against flooding - where I live, they wouldn't even open sluice gates to relieve flood risks! Reason: It would harm the fishing season and the Environment Agency's "Fair" rating they gave to the biological quality of the areas rivers! Result: SEVERE FLOODING.
The local pumping station to me was left full and dysfunctional without being emptied during the flood whilst telling consumers on the telephone enquiry lines that they were doing everything that they can!.... I don't think so!!! Watch how they will now ask the government for extra funding ????
Martin Sansone, Lincoln,
Actually Noah of Swindon - that's just the kind of pathetic attitude that allows situations like this to exist! Companies such as Trent Water and respective governing bodies are grossly negligent through cost-cutting and concentration on ever higher profits! And as long as the good old British public with their 'stiff upper lip' and gallant stoicism make excuses for this gross negligence - situations like this will just continue!! What about the thousands of people who - as well as living with flooded homes, and no running water - now no longer have an income? Have you given a donation to the Red Cross or anything more substantial than criticize we who are having to exist through this time? The louder the complaints - the more chance there is of more efficient services! And as Severn Trent deemed it necessary to advertise their grossly inflated profits of £300million today - obviously they are money-driven - so? - Hit them in their pockets with demands for compensation!
L C Gillatt, CHELTENHAM, UK
What would happen if everyone in Gloucestershire refused to pay our water rates, until Severn Trent can prove to us it will not happen again? What's the worse they could do, turn our water off for non payment.
One bowser for nearly 50+ houses, about one small bowser for about 150-200 people.
We've had no water in our bowser for over 24 hours now. To start off with, it was filled twice a day, and it was empty within an hour, now the new improved mini tanker idea is worse. A couple of bottles of water is only just enough for a small family to drink. But what about hygiene???
While driving around Gloucestershire today, while working, I've only seen one small tanker, in 9 hours!!!
Could Severn Trent do any worse... I doubt it!
I guess they will make a nice profit out of there rubbish collection side ( aka Biffa), with all the skips that the area will need.
Siran, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
These companies have only one aim - to make money, which is why privatising our infrastructure was always going to cause problems. Private companies will always take risks with business continuity planning and disaster recovery if it puts their profits at risk. The result is we have unacceptable single points of failure across our critical utilities. Worse still, the government was warned several years ago as a result of previous flooding.
Danny, Cheltenham, GLOS
Are the water companies to blame?
Is anyone to Blame?
As I understand it if we had drainage to protect from 100 year storms we would still of had problems.
Stephen A, needs to get real, and note that Severn Trent has one of the cheapest water charges, does he expect water older than 48 hours, normally, its stale.
That water works has never before had this problem, I hope he always gets thing right in his job, and can forsee all possible problems.
Mike D, Leicester, leicester
I'm of the opinion that the recent events around gloucestershire are not the fault of Severn Trent, how is it their fault that Mother Nature is stamping her authority. I currently pay rates, work all day Monday to Friday and live on my own and use far less water than a family of 4 but I do not expect anything by way of compensation for the freak events. In fact I think it is quite disgusting that in a time of crisis we all look immediately for financial compensation rather than helping each other and the company by being patient and considerate.
However given the profits they are making surely it would be wise to plough some of those profits back into the business - fixing leaking pipes, clearing silted drains, etc, etc.
I live in Quedgeley, Tesco's has had plenty of free bottled water, I've found bowsers with water for washing, etc, I have basically been inconvenienced for a couple of weeks - there are a great number of people that would rather be in my situation than theirs.
Steve, Quedgeley, Glos,
Why have a go at at water companies because they make a profit? They did not cause the floods. Tesco made over 2£Billion,do we blame them for obesity? In hindesite the water co's could have built the controls above water flood levels,which they probably will now do. It is easy to be wise after events. Did anyone notice that it started raining the day the latest potter book was released?
Flat Roofer, Llandrindod Wells, Radnor County
Severn Trent should indeed be made to rebate every single household that has lost its water suply in these floods. The £1.1 billion profit they have made in recent years is nothing short of obscene considereing the amount of water lost through leaks.
Nigel, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
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