© Reed Parish Council 2024 Website Accessibility Statement
Reed Village
The website of Reed Parish Council

Water pressure in Reed

Water pressure - or more exactly low pressure - has become a significant concern in recent months. A problem that originated some years ago appears to have become much more serious recently, causing inconvenience to residents, especially those with high pressure domestic water systems. It has even led to difficulty in irrigating the cricket field. Numerous residents have complained directly to Affinity Water.

What is Reed Parish Council doing?

Reed PC has written to Affinity Water. Individual Members have complained directly to Affinity Water too,

How have Affinity Water responded?

Affinity replied to the Parish Council explaining that the combination of the higher that usual demand generated by the countrywide lockdown, problems at the Chipping pumping station, and the warm summer weather contributed to issues during 2020. To alleviate the demand on the Chipping Pumping Station the have “re-zoned” 213 properties in Barley, meaning that these properties, unless there is an emergency, will not be supplied by the Chipping Pumping Station. They also undertook to monitor the water pressure over the summer 2021. In response to the Parish Council’s request for sight of the results of the monitoring, they reported that using the Levels of Service point in Blacksmith’s Lane their monitoring confirmed that they were for the most part achieving three times the regulatory standard. However some residents may have experienced a small drop in pressure as there were some issues at the Chipping pumping station. These issues at the pumping station correlate to the results in the graph below. The regulatory standard pressure level they are obliged to provide is a minimum is 7 metres head (0.7 bar), although Affinity say they always aim to provide at least 15 metres head (1.5 bar) where they can. More information about this can be found on their website here. In response to the Parish Council’s query about whether they are consulted over new developments, they told us that they were not part of the planning permission process and only become involved when the permission has been granted and they are asked to supply the property. This has been confirmed by the planning team at North Herts District Council, who point out that it’s principally a matter between the developer and the utilities: put simply, if a water supply cannot be maintained the developer would not be able to sell the properties. It’s the same as regards all utilities.
Generic image of flowing kitchen tap
© Reed Parish Council 2023 Website Accessibility Statement
Reed Village
The website of Reed Parish Council

Water pressure in Reed

Water pressure - or more exactly low pressure - has become a significant concern in recent months. A problem that originated some years ago appears to have become much more serious recently, causing inconvenience to residents, especially those with high pressure domestic water systems. It has even led to difficulty in irrigating the cricket field. Numerous residents have complained directly to Affinity Water.

What is Reed Parish Council doing?

Reed PC has written to Affinity Water. Individual Members have complained directly to Affinity Water too,

How have Affinity Water responded?

Affinity replied to the Parish Council explaining that the combination of the higher that usual demand generated by the countrywide lockdown, problems at the Chipping pumping station, and the warm summer weather contributed to issues during 2020. To alleviate the demand on the Chipping Pumping Station the have “re-zoned” 213 properties in Barley, meaning that these properties, unless there is an emergency, will not be supplied by the Chipping Pumping Station. They also undertook to monitor the water pressure over the summer 2021. In response to the Parish Council’s request for sight of the results of the monitoring, they reported that using the Levels of Service point in Blacksmith’s Lane their monitoring confirmed that they were for the most part achieving three times the regulatory standard. However some residents may have experienced a small drop in pressure as there were some issues at the Chipping pumping station. These issues at the pumping station correlate to the results in the graph below. The regulatory standard pressure level they are obliged to provide is a minimum is 7 metres head (0.7 bar), although Affinity say they always aim to provide at least 15 metres head (1.5 bar) where they can. More information about this can be found on their website here. In response to the Parish Council’s query about whether they are consulted over new developments, they told us that they were not part of the planning permission process and only become involved when the permission has been granted and they are asked to supply the property. This has been confirmed by the planning team at North Herts District Council, who point out that it’s principally a matter between the developer and the utilities: put simply, if a water supply cannot be maintained the developer would not be able to sell the properties. It’s the same as regards all utilities.