UNITED Utilities chiefs will be questioned by councillors over this week's water shortage.

Residents were yesterday still being warned to boil water after parts of the borough were left high and dry for more than 24 hours earlier this week.

Eighteen thousand residents were without water across Bolton after a fault developed at the Sweetloves Water Treatment Works in Belmont Road in the early hours of Monday morning.

Homes, schools and businesses continued to be left without water late into Tuesday and once the flow returned, people were instructed to boil any water being used for drinking or food preparation.

United Utilities was forced to drop large quantities of bottled water off around Bolton to keep people going.

While the fault has now been fully rectified, the advice on boiling water remains in place.

Residents picked up bottled water from the Asda store in Moss Bank Way yesterday.

United Utilities has said any customers affected by the shortage for more than 12 hours will be compensated, with £25 being paid into their accounts — plus a further £10 for every extra 12 hours of problems — potentially leaving the firm with a bill of close to £450,000.

Cllr John Walsh, ward councillor for Astley Bridge, which was affected by the shortage, said the public deserves a proper explanation of what happened and why.

He said: “United Utilities have a monopoly over our water supply and as such they have an obligation that when we turn our taps, water comes out.

“During this period their service fell well below the required standard and I think people need answers as to why families were left without water for up to 24 hours.

“I would like to know why it was not possible to take water from other sources which I believe it is possible to do.”

Cllr Walsh has asked for a senior United Utilities representative to appear at the next meeting of the council’s environmental services scrutiny committee to explain more about the reasons for the cut-off and why it took so long to resolve.

Paul Forshaw area manager for United Utilities said: "We would be more than happy to attend the next environment scrutiny committee to explain the recent 'no water issue' in parts of Bolton.

“We know how frustrating this issue has been for our customers, and would like to thank them for their incredible patience and understanding.

“Network issues of this size and duration are thankfully very rare, but when then do happen, we recognise how disruptive they can be.

“Our focus is now on ensuring that the water is back to its usual extremely high standards, so that we are able to lift the boiled water notice.”