Residents frustrated with lockdown water problems at Sandwell high-rise block

The water supply has cut off twice this week at St Mary's House, in West Bromwich.

There are fears this will continue happening because engineers are waiting on a part to arrive in order to fix the problem.

Sandwell Council hasn't confirmed when this will be.

The local authority also could not say how many flats have been affected. However, it is understood some flats didn't have issues. A total of 64 flats are located inside the building.

The water supply cut off on Tuesday afternoon before it was fixed in the evening that day. The water supply also went off on Thursday but was fixed within hours.

Residents find the situation ironic as safety posters in the flats are urging them to wash their hands as frequently as possible.

Sharon Barnes, aged in her 50s, who lives in a flat, said: "The council's response was poor given the circumstances. We have to use communal lifts and corridors where you are touching everything inside.

Favourable

"We are not very happy with the response from them. On the phone, the council have said 'we will get someone out to you as soon as we can. We have a shortage of staff due to the coronavirus'.

"Well, hello, we have got no water. A lot of the residents are aged over 50. Some are in their 90s."

Julie Parkes, 61, added: "Myself and other residents haven't had favourable a response from the council. Another resident was told 'we are waiting for a part'. But we don't know when the part will come. This could keep happening."

In response to the story, a Sandwell Council spokesman said: "The water is back up and running again.

"We’re sorry for any temporary disruption to those flats affected – on both occasions that the water went off this week, the council responded quickly and made sure the water was back on within a few hours.

"There has been an issue with a booster pump and we have electricians working to stop this happening again and to fix the pump permanently.

"We are waiting for the pressure transmitter part to come but our electricians have reconfigured the booster pump which will hopefully stop it tripping out.

"Residents can be assured we also have electricians on call ready to respond if there are any more issues in the meantime."