Many areas were badly affected by the floods

Supplies are already flowing in 98% of houses cut off during the flooding crisis, which saw some 140,000 homes lose running water.

Severn Trent said its resupply programme had gone to plan and was actually ahead of schedule.

It was initially thought that not all homes would have water before Sunday.

"This was our most realistic picture, a Severn Trent spokeswoman said.

"We didn't want to get people's hopes up and then disappoint them."

We must remind customers that any restored supplies must not be used for drinking, even after boiling Martin Kane, Severn Trent England's record wet July

Up to 350,000 people lost water when the Mythe treatment works near Tewskesbury flooded on 22 July, with the water company warning it could be two weeks before supplies resumed.

The final pocket of dry homes - around Woodmancote - should be back online within the next 12 hours.

Martin Kane, Severn Trent's director of customer services, said: "By the end of Wednesday we are hopeful that all customers who were originally affected by the shutdown of Mythe water treatment works will have running tap water.

"We must continue to remind customers that any restored supplies must not be used for drinking, even after boiling.

"But it's perfectly safe to use for showering, bathing, flushing toilets and washing clothes."

Deliveries of bottled water and bowser supplies will remain in place while the flooding crisis continues, he added.

Rugby clubs

Meanwhile, about �30,000 has been donated by two Premiership Rugby clubs to help flooding victims.

Gloucester and Worcester Rugby clubs also plan to take part in a festival of rugby next week, with the cities' mayors administering any monies raised.

A separate appeal has so far raised �300,000 from businesses, without counting contributions from the public.

All outpatient appointments will resume from Wednesday in the county's main hospitals in Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Routine surgery and day case procedures will begin on Thursday.