Thames Water leak turns Norbury street into a stream during hosepipe ban

A leak on Pollards Hill North in Norbury has been running since the end of August, and residents say it leaves part of the road slippery day and night.

The water escapes beside the booster pumping station on Pollards Hill and runs downhill towards London Road. A long stretch of the street stays wet, and motorcyclists and cyclists have been slowing down so they do not skid.

Norbury leak dates back to 30 August

The problem goes back to 30 August. At that stage Maggie Robson, a long-time resident, called it “just a trickle”. It has since grown into a faster stream, and she now describes it as “pouring”. Residents fear several litres of water an hour are going to waste. “It’s a real health and safety hazard,” she said.

Ms Robson said callers to the Thames Water helpline were told workers were on site when nobody was there. She also said the company promised to turn the water off on a Sunday night. She passed the message on to her neighbours, but the shutdown never happened.

Michael Lawson’s mother lives on the road and he visits her often. He said getting hold of the water company took a lot of time and effort. According to him, the street has had similar leaks twice already this year. He also recalled a night this summer when most homes on the road suddenly lost their water, which worried elderly residents and local families.

Hosepipe ban frustrates Croydon gardeners

Residents have asked how much water is being lost while Thames Water’s temporary hosepipe ban is still in force and London is in drought. Many neighbours are gardeners, Ms Robson said, which makes it harder to accept.

A Thames Water spokesperson apologised for the disruption. The company said its contractor, Flowfix, would carry out the repair imminently, and that a team went to the site on Wednesday 16 September to put a clamp on the main. The permit for the job is due to run until Thursday 17 September.

According to the spokesperson, crews have dealt with upwards of 1,000 leaks each week this summer, which the Met Office has named the hottest on record. The company said soil that dries out can crack and shift, which puts pipes under the road under strain and makes bursts more likely. Hot weather also pushes up demand for water, adding to the pressure on the network.