A long-running leak in Norbury is wasting water and creating a daily hazard for motorists
Residents on a Norbury street say a long-running water leak has turned the road into a ‘river’, creating a 24-hour health and safety hazard as motorists slow down to navigate the flowing water.
Thames Water said it is working to repair the leak, but residents claim progress has been slow and communication from the water company has been poor. They have also questioned the amount of water being wasted while Thames Water’s temporary hosepipe ban remains in place, and London still being in a drought.
The leak on Pollards Hill North was first reported on August 30, when long-time resident Maggie Robson described it as “just a trickle”. However, in the days and weeks that followed, it developed into a faster-flowing stream, with Maggie saying it is now “pouring”.
Maggie told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that residents fear the leak, located next to the Pollards Hill Water Booster Pumping Station, is now wasting several litres of water an hour. During a visit, the LDRS observed water flowing from the leak, before making its way downhill towards the busy London Road.
The leak left a significant part of the road wet, leading to motorcyclists and cyclists having to slow down to avoid skidding. “Its a real health and safety hazard,” Maggie told the LDRS.
However, when asked how Thames Water has dealt with the situation, Maggie was not complimentary. “You phone up the helpline and they tell you there are men working there but of course they are not,” she said.
“They said we are switching the water off Sunday night, so I let all the neighbours know, but they didn’t end up doing it. I’m cross with them but there’s no point.”
Michael Lawson, who regularly visits his mother on the road, said contacting the water provider had been difficult and time-consuming. You just can’t get through to them. It’s frustrating,” he told the LDRS.
This is not the first time the Norbury road has been affected by water leaks, with Michael saying similar leaks have occurred twice there this year. He also recalled an incident this summer when most of the street’s water supply was suddenly cut off overnight, causing concern among elderly residents and local families.
While Thames Water said its contractors, Flowfix, would fix the leak imminently, residents fear the continuous flow is wasting large amounts of water while the company has instructed customers to observe a hosepipe ban.
“This is frustrating for us because a lot of us are gardeners around here,” Maggie said.
The LDRS has reported on similar leaks across Croydon this year, with residents raising concerns about water being wasted and Thames Water’s handling of the incidents.
A Thames Water spokesperson apologised for any disruption caused by the leak on Pollards Hill North and said its team was on site on Wednesday (September 16) to fit a clamp to the water main as part of the repair. The permit for the work is currently scheduled to run until Thursday (September 17).
The spokesperson added: “We have been fixing more than 1,000 leaks a week during what the Met Office has declared has been the hottest summer on record. When the ground becomes very dry it can shrink, crack and move, placing additional stress on buried water mains and increasing the likelihood of leaks and bursts.
“At the same time, customer demand for water increases significantly during hot weather, placing additional pressure on the network.”
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