Families near waste plant bemoan lack of water

The operator of a waste plant in north Essex said it was investigating after complaints from people nearby experiencing a lack of water.

Paul Thorogood, a local Green Party councillor, said "hundreds" were complaining, and one resident told the BBC that sometimes "we can't run the taps".

Indaver, which has run the Rivenhall incinerator near Silver End since last summer, said it had also "experienced challenges with water availability".

Anglian Water, which provides the supply for the waste plant and nearby homes, said it had "multiple teams dealing with the situation".

The company recently implemented a hosepipe ban for its customers.

The incinerator started burning household waste in August on behalf of Essex County Council.

It is expected to burn nearly 600,000 tonnes of rubbish every year.

Thorogood said people had complained in towns and villages including Kelvedon, Feering and Coggeshall.

"It seems the official line is that Anglian Water are struggling with the capacity," said the county councillor.

In an email from a senior planning officer at Essex County Council, seen by the BBC, they said the water being supplied to the incinerator had created a "strain on the existing infrastructure".

Mother-of-two Danielle Levart, from Kelvedon, said: "Some days we find that we can't run the taps upstairs in our bathrooms.

"Other days our appliances haven't been running properly because of the low water pressure, and last week in the heat we couldn't use our shower for the whole week."

Coggeshall resident Sarah Norfolk-Walsh, 40, said she complained to Anglian Water "virtually daily".

"There's literally no water coming out of the taps," she said.

"We're generally fine between like 6am and 7am, but after that it doesn't happen, it's very hit and miss."

Indaver said it was aware of problems experienced by households and it had taken a "number of steps" to address the challenges, such as installing temporary storage tanks on site and bringing water to the site by tanker.

"We are working with Anglian Water to identify a long-term solution and will continue to take measures that minimise demand on the local water network wherever possible," it said.

Anglian Water said it had a "duty to prioritise water for domestic use over non-domestic" and so thanked residents for their "patience while we investigated the matter".

A spokesperson said: "Our teams have been working with the non-household business on a solution that will be funded by their business."

An Essex County Council spokesperson added: "We have raised the issue of water supply with Anglian Water and understand they are investigating their water network."

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