Homes and businesses across a large area of mid-Cornwall left without water
South West Water says the burst water main was caused by a third party contractor
Last updated 31st Aug 2021
A burst water main is the reason parts of mid Cornwall have not had any water overnight.
South West Water says the damage was caused by a third party contractor.
The affected areas reach from the TR1 to TR16 postcodes, spanning from Carland Cross to Trevu.
Many residents reported no supply for hours or low pressure.
Some were restored by Tuesday morning (August 31st), however others are still waiting.
Bosses say engineers are working hard to fix the damage, however customers are likely to see discoloured water for some time after repairs are finished.
In a statement issued first thing on Tuesday morning, South West Water said: "3rd Party Damage – We're aware customers in the post code areas of TR1-TR16 are experiencing no water, low pressure or discoloured water. Unfortunately, this is due to damage to two water pipes caused by a third-party who was laying cable for a renewable energy installation. The extent of the damage is significant and complex, and our engineers have been working very hard throughout the night and morning to repair the pipes and return water to our customers.
"The repair to the first pipe is complete and we anticipate the second main to be repaired by Midday, supplies will start to return after this . We will re-charge our mains slowly, customers may experience pressure fluctuations and discoloured water for some time after the repair is completed.
"If you experience discoloured water, please don’t worry. Iron and Manganese particles are always present in our raw water supplies but are reduced to very low levels by our treatment processes. When flow of water changes in our system, this can disturb any residue that forms a coating on our pipes, and this can lead to the water temporarily taking on a brown or orange appearance – but there is nothing to worry about. We understand that due to its appearance customers may not wish to use their supply and whilst we don’t recommend that you drink it, if you accidently consume any it will not do you any harm.
"We would like to ask our customer that If you do have water please limit water use where you can to allow us to continue focusing our efforts on repairing the burst main, so please do not run your taps to clear.
"We are prioritising water deliveries for our most vulnerable customers and have 2 water collection points set up should you wish to collect water from: St Agnes Carpark TR5 OTP & Carnon Downs Village Hall TR3 6GH."
South West Water's incident page has the latest information on when repairs will be finished and how long discoloured water may last.