In south London, a burst pipe in the Crystal Palace area has left numerous homes and businesses without water or experiencing diminished supply.
Thames Water has expressed regret to its customers, indicating that engineers have identified the leak’s origin and are “working diligently to restore service and repair the pipe at the earliest opportunity”.
A representative further stated, “Bottled water will be delivered to individuals registered with our priority service”. This provision is particularly aimed at 11 care homes and 29 schools in the vicinity that are facing either low water pressure or no supply whatsoever.
The affected postcodes include SE19, SE20, SE23, SE26, SE27, and SW16, according to the water utility company.
In an official statement, they expressed their apologies to those in the Crystal Palace region who are dealing with low or nonexistent water pressure due to the pipe breakage.
“We have dispatched water tankers to the area to help replenish the network, and residents should expect their water supply to be restored throughout the day as our reservoir refills,” they noted.
Additionally, they are reaching out to customers in impacted zones who have registered special needs, such as medical dependency on water, to ensure they receive appropriate assistance and support.
Thames Water confirmed that they have established a bottled water distribution point at the Sainsbury’s located at Southend Lane, SE26 4PU.
Customers can obtain updates regarding the situation through the company’s website. They are also addressing flooding related to a separate issue at the Crystal Palace Pumping Station, which is “contributing to the supply challenges”.
Lambeth Council has stated that it is taking action to “assist the affected communities” within the borough, collaborating with schools that could be disrupted due to the water problems. They are also setting up a distribution center for all residents experiencing supply issues.
Residents described the aftermath of Tuesday’s underground pipe rupture, noting “streams of murky water pouring down the street.”
Magda shared with the BBC, “I returned home from work around six in the evening and received a WhatsApp message from neighbors alerting me to the water outage. Fortunately, being a bit of a contingency planner, I had around 32 liters of bottled water stored in my garage, so we managed fine—able to brush our teeth and wash our hands. By this morning, the water was flowing again.”
