Water company apologises for Market Harborough pipe burst

The pipe burst in two places early on Sunday morning in Ashley Way in the east of the town, but properties all over town were affected.

Sarah-Jayne O’Kane, from Severn Trent, said: “It turned out to be a very difficult job.

“It was a big pipe, very deep in the ground, surrounded by lots of things, such as gas pipes, electricity cables, trees and the surrounding homes that made digging and the repair much more difficult.”

Severn Trent tried to keep water supplies going in town by using tankers to move water around the town’s pipe network.

“Severn Trent would like to apologise to any customers that were affected by the burst water pipe” said Ms O’Kane.

The company also wants to thank Sainsbury’s and the Red Cross volunteers for helping to hand out bottled water during the incident.

The pipe was repaired and all water supplies were back on by 10pm on Monday.

The temporary repair is holding and the company is now working to identify the best permanent solution for the burst pipe. Robert Smyth Academy was amongst the buildings affected by the pipe burst.

The school sent all of its 1,050 pupils home on Monday, because the school had no running water. The academy reopened on Tuesday morning.

A second, unrelated, pipe burst in Stuart Road in southern Market Harborough on Wednesday morning.

Severn Trent hopes to have repaired this smaller burst by 2pm on Wednesday.