Burst pipe leaves London flat dry; columnist laments new normal of water outages

A burst pipe left Adrian Chiles without water for two days. He was the only one annoyed, as neighbours accepted it as the new normal.

Capital Post 15/07/2026 18:10

Burst pipe leaves London flat dry; columnist laments new normal of water outages — Burst pipe leaves London flat dry; columnist laments new normal

On Monday morning, Adrian Chiles found only a dribble from his tap. The water company website mentioned a problem being resolved. By Tuesday evening, there was no water at all. The website stated: "Our specialist team have located a large burst water pipe causing no water, low pressure and flooding to the road."

Specialist team irritation

Chiles was irritated by the phrase "specialist team," wondering if it meant anything beyond a couple of blokes with divining rods. He had just had a haircut and needed a shower to avoid an itchy night. Two American students from South Dakota staying with him pitied the "backward country."

Neighbours show no surprise

At 10pm, Chiles joined a long queue at the garage for bottled water. Remarkably, no one showed surprise or annoyance—no eye-rolling, tutting, or complaints about the water company. Chiles concluded this is the new normal.

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Back home, he rinsed his hair with a small bottle of Buxton sparkling water while one American student watched in fascination before going to bed. Chiles lamented the shame of it all.