Northern Ireland Water, the company at the center of the region's water crisis, is warning it could be early next week before supply is restored to customers as tens of thousands of people remain without water for a ninth day.

 

Tens of thousands of people are still without water in Northern Ireland after a winter freeze followed by a swift thaw resulted in burst water mains and pipes.

40,000 homes and businesses in Belfast, the capital, as well as 77 other towns and villages are affected.

Northern Ireland Water is putting 40 percent more water into the system than normal, but much of that is being lost by continuing leaks.

Laurence Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Water, said, "We still believe that the majority of the water that we're losing is being lost not on our distribution network, but is being lost on the customers' own installation if you like. Again we would urge, we would plead with customers to go and look at their own installations to see if they are leaking water."

Critics have condemned the company for its response to the situation as pressure grows for supplies to be restored.

Belfast residents queuing to fill up their water bottles at the emergency water points voiced their discontent.

One said, "Years ago they used to come around and tell everybody when the water was going to be turned off. Now they don't."

The company said it was diverting reservoir supplies to different areas to try to provide all regions with a limited supply.

While the situation improved in the capital, reconnecting rural areas to supply will take longer.

Doctors say a lack of clean water for drinking and washing could cause a health crisis.