‘We’ve had nowhere near enough information”
15:45, 24 May 2026Updated 17:07, 24 May 2026
Residents had to pick up bottled water as they couldn’t drink straight from the tap without boiling first(Image: Media Wales )
People who have been unable to drink their tap water for three days have criticised the lack of information provided by Welsh Water on the nature of the problem.
Thousands of residents across a large area of Wales have now been unable to drink their water straight from the tap for over 72 hours after Welsh Water issued a boil notice, blaming a chemical issue.
Angharad Jones, 34 from Tonyrefail spoke to WalesOnline at Maes Parcio Sardis Road, Pontypridd, where Welsh Water has been providing bottled water on Sunday, the third day of the notice. She was picking up 12 2l bottles of water.
With a house of two adults, two children 11 and 13, a baby under the age of one and a small dog, she said having to boil her water before, drinking, brushing teeth, cooking and filling ice trays was “a real pain” and “concerning” for the family.
Angharad said: “We have had nowhere near enough information on what is happening, it could be a number of issues.
“There is no way to instantly cool stuff so it takes ages to get the bath ready for the baby, I don’t want to even put a pool up for my kids in this hot weather.”
Households in Rhondda Cynon Taf have been warned to boil their water before using it for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice and cooking purposes after a fault at the Maerdy treatment works.
Throughout the three days since Friday, May 22, residents were warned their water might be contaminated after a fault “with the chemical process”.
In its latest statement on Sunday, Welsh Water said, “the boil water notice remains in place and we ask that you continue to follow guidance and boil tap water before drinking, brushing teeth, preparing food or making ice until further notice”.
It said the problem was an issue “affecting the chemical dosing process at the Maerdy treatment works”. It said that had now been fixed and water from the site is re-entering the network but the boil notice remained in place.
Texts were sent to residents who were affected in Blaenllechau, Bryngolau, Cymmer, Dinas, Edmondstown, Ferndale, Hopkinstown, Llwyncelyn, Maerdy, Tylorstown, Penrhys, Pontygwaith, Porth, Pwll Gwaun, Pantygraigwen, Pontypridd – Treforest, Trebanog, Rhiwgarn, Tonyrefail, Tyn Y Bryn, Trehafod, Wattstown, Williamstown and Ynyshir.
Free water is being circulated
One resident told WalesOnline Welsh Water should have been more explicit about what the problem was.
He said: “We have been given advice not to drink the water straight from the tap for now. I understand that these things happen sometimes.
“The problem is, Welsh Water are not being entirely clear on what the problem is. They mentioned something on the lines of ‘chemical dosing levels’ which I assumed may mean something related to chlorination levels possibly being inadequate, but they seem reluctant to be any clearer, so we are just guessing at what is meant by ‘chemical dosing levels’ .
“I think it’s important that as customers, we get clarification.” Get the latest Rhondda news first by signing up to our newsletter here
One resident in Pontypridd, living near one of the three bottled water stations, who did not want to be named, said she was made aware of the issue by her daughter who lives close by.
She said: “I didn’t get a text and a letter is a thing of the past I think so I found out through my daughter but my husband saw the notice online.”
Welsh Water set up three stations across the area, handing out free bottled water for residents whilst the issue was being investigated.
Vehicles queued in a constant line for free water on the hottest weekend of the year so far, as temperatures reached over 26C.
Drivers queued in hot weather to collect water
“We have had to go out to get water twice, luckily we can just walk down as it’s near us. We have collected water for our elderly neighbours who were unable to get there,” said the resident.
“The issue is not great, I am dying to wash my hair.”
Residents have been told they can still bathe and fill up a paddling pool with their tap water, but many were reluctant as they were concerned as to the real issue and what a ‘chemical process error’ might mean.
WalesOnline sent Welsh Water a series of questions asking for more detail on what caused the problem and why it was taking so long to fix.
Welsh Water would not give any further detail on what had happened but said the issue did not involve “too much chemical entering the water supply” but it was “a precautionary measure following an interruption to one stage of the treatment process.”
It said: “On Friday morning, during routine inspections at Maerdy Water Treatment Works, our teams identified a fault affecting part of the treatment process. While monitoring at the treatment works itself did not indicate a deterioration in water quality, we could not be fully confident that water across the wider network consistently met the high standards we require.
“As a precaution, we immediately stopped water from the works entering the network and issued a boil water notice while further testing and investigation were carried out.
“To be clear, this was not an issue involving too much chemical entering the water supply. Rather, this was a precautionary measure following an interruption to one stage of the treatment process.”
Welsh Water said it has taken three days so far to “fully replace, refresh and then thoroughly test water across the system” due to the “size and complexity of the network.”
It said: “Since identifying the issue, our teams have worked continuously to isolate the works, flush and refresh the network, and replace water in the system with freshly treated supplies. Given the size and complexity of the network, it takes a number of days to fully replace, refresh and then thoroughly test water across the system and that is the stage we are currently working through.
“We have also undertaken extensive sampling and laboratory testing across the affected area.
“We are taking a cautious and thorough approach and will only lift the boil water notice once we are completely satisfied that water quality across the network consistently meets all required standards.
“We would again like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this work continues.”