A burst water main on Brook Way in Bradley Stoke cut off supplies to the town for more than seven hours on Tuesday.
Bristol Water said that some 6,000 homes in the town, and neighbouring Stoke Gifford, were left without a supply.
Workers at the site, at the junction with Kemperleye Way, said the problem was down to a broken joint.
The main burst at about 2pm and sent a 30ft jet of water into the air.
The engineers had to wait for escaping water to drop down sufficiently so they could start repairs.
The main was repaired at about 9pm with supplies slowly returning to the homes which were cut off.
We published live updates during the evening of the water cut – here’s the archive updates.
Update 1900: Engineers at the site confident of 2030 fix. Four working in difficult conditions as mains still pressurised.
1915: Tesco is doing a roaring trade selling water. Almost everybody has some in their trolley.
1945: One other interesting fact for you – when the main burst at around 2pm the water was shooting some 30ft into the air. The engineers say the damage to the joint could have been caused by frost.
2030: We’re hearing in the comments that water is slowly returning to areas near to the water main – if your supply has returned please let us know in the comments on this story.
2045: Lots of reports of people at least getting low pressure back - keep them coming here.
2100: Bristol Water is saying the main has been repaired but it will take some time for the water system to refill.
78 responses so far ↓
1 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Bristol Water said the water would be back “within 2 hours” when I called at around 14:45 today. I phoned them again at 17:00 and again they said it would be back in 2 hours.
I think with the amount of rain we are forecast tonight, we may be in for a long wait…
2 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 5:45 pm
5.30 has been and gone…
3 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 5:51 pm
According to the Bristol Water website now, the water will return at 18:45. ..
4 Pete // Jan 27, 2009 at 5:52 pm
we are forced to be their customers so why should they care as long as we’re given a recorded message with no info at all
5 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Thanks Andy – well spotted, I am amending the story.
6 Ian Nicholson // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I am just using the rain water collected to flush the loos.
7 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Well there’s a surprise – 20:30 now.
8 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Thanks Andy
9 Luke // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Great no water, no heating untill 20:30, i bet that won’t happen either. Not funny anymore!
10 Dave // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Assuming this has been caused by weather rather than incompetence surely we need to all accept that its just one of those things and wait patiently.
At the end of the day the guys fixing it are out there in a cold and wet hole trying to fix things as fast as they can. Maybe its taking longer than first thought at least Bristol Water are trying to give us an indication. Do you want accurate predictions or a fixed pipe. personally i’d rather they concentrate on fixing the pipe than accurately estimating how long its going to take them.
11 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I see no-one working in the photos above, and the pictures on Points West tonight showed a hive of inactivity. There also seems to be no hole.
12 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Andy, there were at least four workers there when I was there at 3.45pm.
13 Nicola // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I found the answerphone message a little frustrating. With 2 little children to care for, a pile of laundry and washing up it just means extra work to sort out tomorrow. Groan. Had to change meal plans to using up a small amount of leftover potato and veg and some chicken in a cheese/milk sauce. Very relieved I had cooked extra yesterday. Goodness knows how people without food prepared are managing, and what about the takeaways and small businesses relying on water for income? Considering 6,000 people are affected, there’s very little support or information available.
14 Jamie // Jan 27, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Well done for adding some common sense to the situation Dave. Why can’t people just stop moaning and get on with it!!!
15 Clair // Jan 27, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I agree with Dave, we dont realise how lucky we are to have tap water in the first place. Some people in this world have to walk ten miles or more to get a bucket of dirty water. It goes off for a while and we just dont know how to cope! We should be grateful that at least our water supply will come on again and it all goes back to normal. I also have two children but I’ve told them to get over it – people managed it in WWI and WWII without all sorts of supplies at times including food or electricity etc – get over it and stop moaning.
16 Pete // Jan 27, 2009 at 7:21 pm
it’s not the situation that bothers me its the attitude of the people who are responsible for the repair and we are their customers and pay them a fortune each year bet they knock nothing of our bills for the inconvenience
17 Nicola // Jan 27, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Sorry to sound like I was moaning, I do appreciate we are lucky, I felt that the answerphone message was impersonal when it may have been better to have something else instead. Don’t know what to suggest. I felt bad for those with young children who couldn’t prepare meals etc. I can’t tell mine to ‘get over it’, ‘water broken’ is about what the eldest one understands. I am not a complainer at all. I wanted more information and it wasn’t there, in this day and age we should be able to have accurate information. That’s the last thing I’ll say before I get accused of anything else! Off to bed!
18 Ian // Jan 27, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I wonder how many people leaving comments have tried to fix a pressurised leaking pipe? It’s like trying to fix a hole in a hose pipe whilst the water is turned on but 100 times more difficult.
I’m sure they are doing the best they can to fix it in the conditions they are working under.
19 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Ian, very true – I’ve just been down there again and the poor guy at the bottom of the hole is almost knee-deep in water (if not more) and having a heck of a time in very cold conditions.
20 Bill Blog // Jan 27, 2009 at 7:58 pm
6,000 homes paying an annual water rate of at least £100 each ………… That’s over half a million quid a year ………… to put one man in a hole for 4 hours ….. up to his knees and only a recorded message to apologise ……….
In the words of the great Catherine Tate character Nana
“F******g Liberty !”
21 Grant // Jan 27, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Let’s leave the analysis of what has happened and if it could have been handled better until it’s all sorted. Great update service this by the way.
22 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:14 pm
To be fair, Bill Blog, there’s no more room to fit a second person down there! The other three are helping as best they can.
Thanks for the kind words, Grant.
If anyone’s water does come back up can they leave a message here, please.
23 Jo // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Obviously it’s not back on but I feel sorry for the poor people in the houses nearby having to cope with all the noise and water all over their gardens.
24 Pete // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:34 pm
they told me that if it lasts more than 12 hours they’ll send bowsers out
i’ll give them a ring @ 2 a.m.
25 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Nothing here either, Jo. Thankfully most of the water is draining down Brook Way so I don’t think any gardens will have got flooded.
Anybody else got water back yet?
26 Ian // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Nope, nothing here
27 Jo // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Is that gonna be to Stoke Gifford too?
28 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Okay – if it’s not back by 9.30pm I’ll pop down and find out what’s going on.
29 Ian // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I’ve just been told there is water in Kemperleye Way again but not here yet…
30 Mark // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I’m getting a bit of water coming out now – but no way near enough pressure…
31 Michelle // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:40 pm
No nothing in the bailey’s court area
32 Bill Blog // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Good job it’s not a hostage situation – their credibility would be shot to pieces the amount of times they have extended the deadline !
They say the truth hurts ……….. but sometimes it’s easier than being sold false hope.
33 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Nice one Ian – keep the reports coming in
34 Mark // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Forgot to say I’m in Saxon Way (North Bradley Stoke)
35 Ian // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I’m in Ellan Hay…
36 Deb // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Water now trickling through but pressure very low.
37 Lee // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Ours has just come back on in Lavender Way – low pressure, but seems to be ok
38 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Low pressure but coming through at Bradley Stoke Examiner towers in Juniper Way.
39 Ian // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:44 pm
It’s getting closer to mine then
40 Deb // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:44 pm
sorry, that’s in The Bluebells.
41 jase // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:45 pm
cross tree grove nothin here yet
42 mayur // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:46 pm
The tap is trickling now, hopefully it will be in full force in ah hour
-@ The Culvert / Three Brooks Lane
43 Emma // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I’m in Winsbury Way and still have low pressure
44 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Theres a reasonable amount of pressure in my tap through the kitchen sink, but strangely nothing anywhere else in the house. Wheatfield Drive.
45 mayur // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:51 pm
@The Culvert / Three Brooks Lane
the pressure is enough to resume some work in the kitchen…….Phewww
Hope it reaches you guys too sooner..
46 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Bristol Water says that it has been repaired but it will take time for it all to get around the pipes in the areas affected.
47 Deb // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Kitchen sink has the highest pressure in our house, its very low upstairs. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to have a shower in the morning!
48 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Thanks Andy – well spotted with the update.
49 Bill Blog // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Back on in Lavender Way – so I’m Off
to the loo …………….. Hurrah!!
50 jase // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:57 pm
time for the shower to get battered now lol
51 Ian // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Still not even a trickle in Ellan Hay
52 Chris // Jan 27, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Andy, chill out a bit! I don’t believe Bristol Water have a Crystal Ball! First time in 20 years I’ve lived in Bradley Stoke that I’ve been without water, so not a bad record!! Tarragon Place back on at 20.53
53 Owen // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Nothing in Dewfalls Drive yet, obviously hasn’t worked its way up the hill!
54 jase // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:01 pm
as we speak the wife is cracking on with the washing up lol hail bristol water lol
55 Bill Blog // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:02 pm
On a serious note – I would like to comment on what a fantastic community resource this site is.
I came across it quite by accident this evening but have added it to my “favourites” and will certainly reccomend it to all my freinds in the area.
Well done to the team who put it together and well done to everyone who contributed this evening.
Although my comments may not have been the most constructive I believe that there is room for humour in most situations and hope that nobody was annoyed by my couple of glib postings.
Fantastic to know that there is a sense of community alive somewhere in Britain. Proud to be a Bradley Stoker.
Regards
Bill Blog
56 jase // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:02 pm
foot massage next lol for me
57 Jon // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Low to medium pressure back in Shepherds Walk. Great website, have to keep an eye on it more, for info. Cheers
58 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:03 pm
We are fully working! Every tap downstairs is back to normal, upstairs has pressure not at full power yet. And i can hear the water going through the heating system!! Warmth. Wheatfield Drive.
59 Rose // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:03 pm
back on quite good pressure Tarragon Place
60 Arthur // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:03 pm
The water is back on!!! Hope you guys have the same soon. Snowberry Close by the way….
61 adrian // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:04 pm
it’s on dewfalls drive. can hear watery noises throughout the house
62 Sarah // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:05 pm
We have a trickle back in stoke gifford!!!!
63 Owen // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Back on in Dewfalls, cuppa time!
64 Ian // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:08 pm
YEAH YEAH YEAH! It’s back on in Ellan Hay. Where’s the bloody toilet
65 Chris (editor) // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Back here too – full pressure!
Just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to everybody for contributing here tonight. Great to see us all pulling together for info. Top stuff.
66 Michelle // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Back on in Berkeley Mead yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!
67 ROB // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I wouldn’t advise using electric showers until you get a reasonable pressure back as they may over heat. Still low pressure in Great Meadow Rd Bradley Stoke.
Great Website! more useful than Bristol Water site.
68 jase // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:16 pm
bristol water can only post what they know guys they may have our cash but they cant buy magic wands
69 jase // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:18 pm
fair play to the blokes fixing it
70 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Few, I can flush the toilet now. My 3 kids had “filled” it, if you know what I mean!
My trusty combi boiler has a closed water circuit so at least I’ve been toasty this evening.
71 Ian // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Does anybody else have dirty coloured water like I do in Ellan Hay? It’s cloudy as well
I advise boiling before drinking it….
72 Jo // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Good pressure in stoke gifford now!
73 Andy // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Colour looks OK here in Dewfalls. Mind you I’ve only flushed the toilet and made a cuppa.
74 Rose // Jan 27, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Thanks to every one who has had to work in the cold and wet to get our water back on. Especially the man down the hole.
75 IanH64 // Jan 27, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Our water came back on at 21.25. We were down to using the fishpond water to flush the loo. Thank goodness we had some drinks in the fridge.
76 Chrissy // Jan 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Umm our water is now coming our very brown, is this bad?
77 Jeremy Williams // Jan 28, 2009 at 2:44 pm
It has been very interesting to read all these comments. Whenever something like this happens, Bristol Water does its level best to get supplies back to normal as quickly as possible and to keep customers informed while the work progresses. This was a particularly difficult job in difficult conditions and estimates of the time it would take had to be revised several times. We use automated messages on the phone systems to try to let as many people access the info as possible, rather than hanging on for ages for somebody to answer. At the same time, we update our website’s emergency news section regularly.
regards
Jeremy Williams
Bristol Water
78 Eddy // Jan 30, 2009 at 10:04 am
A tip if it happens again, or in general if you have your water turned off for plumbing repairs. Open the kitchen tap a little, this lets the air escape as the water begins to reflow and stops the spluttering. A neighbour reported their toliet system was broken after the presure hit the inlet valve, I told them this for future reference so thought I would share.
Leave a Comment