Residents on Pollards Hill North in Norbury have expressed frustration over a water leak that has been flowing for weeks, turning the road into a 'river' and creating a 24-hour health and safety hazard. The leak, first reported on August 30, has intensified from a 'trickle' to a 'pouring' stream, according to long-time resident Maggie Robson.
Leak causes daily hazards and wasted water
The leak, located next to the Pollards Hill Water Booster Pumping Station, is wasting several litres of water an hour, residents fear. The water flows downhill towards the busy London Road, leaving a significant part of the road wet. Motorcyclists and cyclists have been forced to slow down considerably to avoid skidding, with Maggie describing it as 'a real health and safety hazard'.
Thames Water has acknowledged the issue 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 scheduled to run until Thursday (September 17). However, residents claim progress has been slow and communication from the water company has been poor.
Residents criticize communication and response
Maggie, who has lived on the road for over 30 years, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that calling the helpline has been unhelpful. 'You phone up the helpline and they tell you there are men working there but of course they are not,' she said. She also recounted an incident where Thames Water said they would switch off the water on a Sunday night, but they didn't follow through, leaving her 'cross' but resigned.
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 road has been affected by leaks; Michael noted similar leaks have occurred twice this year, and an incident this summer cut off the street's water supply overnight, causing concern among elderly residents and families.
Hosepipe ban and drought raise questions
Residents have questioned the amount of water being wasted while Thames Water's temporary hosepipe ban remains in place and London is still in a drought. '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 waste and Thames Water's handling of incidents.
A Thames Water spokesperson apologised for any disruption caused by the leak and said: '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.'
The spokesperson added: 'At the same time, customer demand for water increases significantly during hot weather, placing additional pressure on the network.' Thames Water said its contractors, Flowfix, would fix the leak imminently, but residents remain concerned about the ongoing waste of water and the safety risks posed by the flowing water.
