Hafren Dyfrdwy advice ahead of Storm Goretti

Hafren Dyfrdwy has issued advice to customers as Storm Goretti is set to bring snow, ice, rain and winds to the region from this afternoon.

The Met Office has issued snow and ice warnings for Thursday and Friday as Storm Goretti, which has been named as the first storm of the year by French forecasters, is set to arrive.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its amber cold health alerts across England until midday on Sunday.

The water company has now issued advice to customers about who to call if affected by flooding and said its teams are ready to manage any storm-related incident. They’ve also provided tips on how to protect any outdoor pipes at home, to prevent burst pipes and protect peoples water supply. 

Scott Ludford, from Hafren Dyfrdwy’s Network Control team, said: “We are expecting some very wintery condition across the region for the rest of the week, and we can reassure customers all our teams are prepared to manage any storm-related incidents.

“Storm Goretti is predicted to bring snow, rain, ice and strong winds across parts of the region, and we know how distressing bad weather and any form of flooding can be, so we are issuing advice again so people know who to contact if the worse happens and how to be prepared for the cold snap.”

Flooding advice: Who customers should contact:   

• For flooding on roads, small rivers and streams. You should contact your local council to report flooding on roads or blocked drains or grates on highways. They will also help you with groundwater surface flooding, as well as flooding in streams, brooks and small rivers.    

•  For major river flooding. Natural Resources Wales will be able to help you if you are at risk of flooding due to rising river levels. You can find more information and contact details on their website.

• For sewer flooding or flooding due to burst pipes. If the flooding is coming from the public sewer you will need to contact us (Hafren Dyfrdwy). If the flooding is due to heavy rain, they may need to wait for the flood water to subside before they can investigate. You should also contact your insurer so they can give you help and advice. 

Other steps people can take to help keep their home flood-free during stormy conditions include:

• Empty any water butts in the garden before the rain starts, this will help reduce the rainwater flow into the drains when a storm arrives.    

• Check that your home and garden drains are free-flowing – clear out any leaves or other waste so rainwater can more easily flow away.    

• Have a look at the roadside drains around your house and clear any leaves or debris that you can – or get in touch with your local council if blocked.

Top tips for protecting pipes:

• Wrap all pipework, fittings and storage tanks in unheated areas of your home (such as lofts, roofs, outbuildings and garages) with insulation.  It’s best to use good quality waterproof foam lagging which can be found at your local DIY store. 

• If you have outside taps, either insulate them or drain them down to the pipework that links to the tap.

Hafren Dyfrdwy provides a water only service in Wrexham and parts of Denbighshire and Flintshire and both a water and wastewater service in Powys.

More information, including details on who to contact in the event of flooding can be found here or by visiting www.hdcymru.co.uk and searching for ‘flooding’.

Further information on how to get the home ready for winter can be found here.