Tens of thousands of homes in areas devastated by floods will get water flowing through their taps in the next 24 hours, but water bills could rocket to cover the cost of the crisis. Around 140,000 properties across Gloucestershire, which have been without running water for a week, were told the water supply would be restored to all areas by Thursday. But it could be a further two weeks before tap water is safe enough to drink. Fears of more flooding in the South Midlands and Thames Valley areas have faded and drier weather is forecast for the week ahead, as residents finally see an end to the long crisis in sight. Beleaguered residents in Gloucestershire also reacted with anger to reports that senior managers at the Environment Agency had been handed substantial bonuses. The Sunday Times reported that the agency’s chief executive, Baroness Young, received a 15% bonus of £24,000 on top of her £163,000 salary. Eight other executives, including the director of water management, received awards averaging 10% of their salaries. Shoppers queuing for bottled water at a supermarket in Quedgeley, near Gloucester, called on the managers to hand the money over to victims. John Edwards, 63, said: “It’s disgusting. They should hand it back and use the money for flood defences or to help people who have lost everything. It’s not showing any community spirit like we’ve been trying our best to do.” Other shoppers criticised the flood defences in the city, and said they were paying the price for a lack of investment in them over the years. An agency spokesman said that the bonuses were “modest” and were awarded to reflect success “across a range of objectives”. Concerns were also beginning to be raised about who will end up paying to improve defences to counter future deluges. With price limits for water already set for up to 2010 by regulator Ofwat, any rises could only come into force from 2011 onwards, when bills could rocket.

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