Severn Trent has announced £3.5 million worth of aid for flood victims - but says it won't pay a penny in compensation.
More than 140,000 homes were left without drinking water for 16 days after the Mythe water treatment plant, near Tewkesbury, flooded.
Under Government regulations, customers who lose their water supplies for more than 12 hours can expect compensation.
But Severn Trent, which made £325.5 million in pre-tax profits in 2006-7, said yesterday that the ?unprecedented' weather meant that Ofwat's Guaranteed Standards Scheme did not apply.
But Severn Trent knew that the Mythe plant was vulnerable and took no action They have screwed up by not paying for sufficient defenses in the first place, and must pay the price now.
Srevern Trent should not be paid for water that was not supplied. If enough refuse to do this, they will have to accept the loss or risk the humilaition of taking thousands to court, probably losing, and having to admit they had no contigency plans.
