Residents of Century Tower in Edgbaston, Birmingham, have been without running water since Saturday, July 4, due to a fault at a local pumping station. The outage has left occupants unable to shower, flush toilets, cook, or clean properly, with temperatures rising.
The water supply was cut around 10am on Saturday. Since then, residents have relied on bottled water provided from a service room. This is not the first interruption this year, with multiple incidents reported.
Residents Express Frustration
Hayley Winston-Redmond, a mother of two living on the 16th floor, said: "You can't bathe or flush the toilets. Both of my children have additional needs so trying to get them to have a flannel wash in the sink is a challenge. The temperatures are supposed to soar and I'm really worried about some of the residents. My neighbour is housebound and I'm having to keep an eye on her."
She added: "We've had multiple incidents when we have not had water. We want them to fix the problem."
Council Response and Repairs
Birmingham City Council apologised to affected residents and stated that contractors are working to restore supply. The council anticipates water should be back by late afternoon on Tuesday, July 7. However, a temporary shutdown will occur next week to complete permanent repairs.
A council spokesperson said: "The water supply to Century Tower in Edgbaston was interrupted on Saturday morning (4 July), due to an issue at its local pumping station - and has remained unavailable since then. We apologise to all affected residents – our contractors are working hard to restore supply. While we anticipate the water supply should be reinstated by late afternoon tomorrow (7 July), there will be a temporary shutdown next week so that permanent repairs can be completed. Bottled water is being provided for tenants during these works, and members of our team remain on site to answer any questions. We thank residents for their patience and understanding - we are doing everything possible to restore a reliable water supply as quickly as possible."
Impact on Vulnerable Residents
The lack of water has particularly affected vulnerable residents, including those with disabilities and the housebound. The council has deployed staff to the site to assist and provide updates.
