Act now to beat the bursts

Paul Cookson from United Utilities' emergency plant team with the new snow plough

As temperatures plunge and the nights draw in, United Utilities is making final preparations to beat the bursts this winter – and is urging homeowners to do the same.

The water company has been preparing for months for the colder weather to ensure it is business as usual for North West customers - no matter how low the mercury plunges.

Last winter the region experienced the coldest December since Met Office records began in 1910, with the average temperature frozen below zero throughout the month.

United Utilities has been lagging pipes at treatment plants, training staff and making use of the latest technology to make sure it’s ready should similar temperatures hit the region in the coming months.

Preparations have included: 

• Purchasing a new £40,000 three-and-a-half metre (11.5ft) snow plough for the ‘Unimog’ – a huge all-terrain 4X4 truck often used by armies, which is also fitted with a gritter
• Increasing the off-road fleet and investing in snow ploughs for these smaller vehicles
• Investing in mobile space heaters, to combat freezing pipes at treatment plants
• Trials of a new insulation and heating system for emergency water tankers. 

Niall Clarke, United Utilities' Emergency Planning and Response manager, said: "Customers rely on their water more than ever during the winter months, be that for hot drinks, a warm shower or the central heating.

"With that in mind we’ve made every possible preparation to ensure we can keep water flowing smoothly no matter what happens.

"The Unimog, the snow plough and our fleet of off-road vehicles means that wherever our customers are in the region – from Crewe to Carlisle – we’ll be able to get to them whatever the weather.”

United Utilities is urging homeowners to make sure their pipes are wrapped up warm this winter.

Frozen or burst pipes in homes and gardens are the responsibility of the householder - and that can mean untimely expensive bills should the worst happen.

Campaign manager Rose Francis said: "Every year thousands of people get caught out and fall victim to the misery of frozen and burst pipes, which can even cut off their water.

"A lot of the time we can only give them advice, because the affected pipes belong to them, not us. The message is simple: look after your pipes and we’ll look after the rest.”

Here are some top tips to beat bursts this winter: 

• Find and label your stop tap so you know where to turn the water off if you get a burst
• Lag your pipes so they are much less likely to freeze
• Have a plan - make sure you know the number of a good plumber. 

United Utilities will be visiting Asda in Rochdale from 10.00am on 14 December handing out free advice packs. Each pack contains a thermometer, an ice scraper and an emergency tag to hang on your stop tap.