Water firm says sorry to families

by JANE HANKS
WATER supplier Véolia has apologised to tourists and residents of a hamlet in the Dordogne after they faced three days without water over the August bank holiday weekend.

Around 100 people had their mains supply cut in the hamlet of La Doinie and neighbouring Hyronde near Montignac because pipes were blocked with calcium deposits. Véolia said its response was slow because of staff shortages due to the holiday.

The problem hit one family of five so hard they considered booking into a hotel rather than continue their holiday in a gîte without running water.

Although it has now been resolved the local community is not happy with the way the situation was handled and they are sending a letter with all their signatures to Véolia and the mayor.

Connexion reader Malcolm Warner said Véolia’s response was unacceptable and they had the impression nobody cared or was interested in what was happening in their small hamlet.

He said they had been given bottles of water but the quantities were inadequate and he felt they only received them because they asked for them.

Véolia spokesperson Nathalie Ducheret told Connexion there had been a series of incidents which meant that even though they had several technicians on site it took a long time to restore water.

She accepted that they could have kept residents better informed and said they would try to do better in future. She understood that when things go wrong people like to know what is going on.

Mrs Ducheret said they would look carefully at any claims for damages from the residents.
Photo: Elenathewise - Fotolia.com