What are the advantages and disadvantages of a direct cold water system?

The main advantage of a direct cold water system in a dwelling is that they are much cheaper to install than an indirect system. Purely because less pipe work is needed and if at all, you will only need a small 110L storage cystern in the roof space. They also provide potable water from all draw off points because all are mains fed. There will also be a good level of pressure in the system.

However, when the mains supply pipe is going under maintainance and is shut off, there will be no cold water in the property, and this problem would not occur if the system were indirect, because there would most likely be a 240L cystern in the roofspace so plenty of water if the mains fails, you can be drinking your cuppa while the property next store cant even wash there hands