With millions of holes being dug every day across the country, severe damage can be caused if workers don’t check for existing assets before they begin digging.
South West Water maintains over 18,000km of underground water pipes and these are at constant risk of damage by people digging without knowing what’s below them or taking adequate precautions.
On average, we experience around 100 incidents caused by third party damage every year. This can be catastrophic.
Water in our pipes is under pressure and damaged pipes could cause injury to workers or people around them, as well as harm to the surrounding area and natural environment. On top of this, it can cause disruptions to our customers’ water supplies in the communities we serve.
We’ve created an information flyer (please see attached) to explain how we can help trace a water main or discuss a main diversion to avoid the unwanted and avoidable damage caused by these incidents.
With the potential cost of repairs, fines and fees being significant and likely to cause lengthy delays to a project, you can dial before they dig by calling South West Water on 0344 346 1010 (between 8am-6pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm Saturday) or 0344 346 2020 (for emergencies outside the hours above).
