Clean-up in Bathgate as water main bursts for 2nd time

Engineers have been working to repair a major water main which burst for the second time in a week causing flooding to a number of homes in West Lothian yesterday.

Published 29th Feb 2016

Engineers have been working to repair a major water main which burst for the second time in a week causing flooding to a number of homes in West Lothian yesterday.

Around 20 properties in the Meikle Inch Lane area of Bathgate were damaged by water after the pipe ruptured, Scottish Water said.

The company apologised "unreservedly" for both incidents.

Senior executives attended a public meeting on Sunday attended by around 200 people including MSP Fiona Hyslop.

Scottish Water reassured locals that a full investigation would be carried out to establish why the main - a 27-inch pipe which normally supplies water to 25,000 properties - failed twice in a few days.

Mark McEwen, Scottish Water's customer service general manager, said: "We are committed to fixing this issue to ensure no further reoccurrence.

"We have taken immediate action to drain this section of main and will not return it to service at this stage unless absolutely necessary.

"This will provide immediate protection and reassurance for customers.

"This main also serves over 25,000 properties across Bathgate, Blackburn and Livingston and we have rezoned supplies to keep customers in water.

"We apologise unreservedly for the inconvenience caused and thank affected customers for their patience and understanding. Our priority is to make sure this cannot happen again."