Many homes have been left with little to no water after a pipe burst overnight – and repairs “could take some time”.
Thames Water has confirmed it is aware of an incident which is affecting its customers across parts of north west London.
The water company says a pipe has burst where the A1 and A41 meet by Fiveways Corner near Hendon.
Photos taken at the scene on the A41 show a huge puddle of water across the carriageway with firefighters on-site. An underpass has also flooded.
The A41 is shut southbound between Fiveways Corner and Greyhound Lane and traffic is very heavy in the area. The A41 has reopened northbound.
Just a little bit of water then… #A41 (and it’s been higher than this judging by the silt…) pic.twitter.com/GAFutEPfZB
— Matthew Frost 🇪🇺🇬🇧💉 💉 💉 (@matthewf_) December 11, 2021
People woke up this morning and reported they had no running water from their taps – Thames Water says properties within the NW4, NW5, and NW11 postcodes are affected, which include Hendon, Mill Hill, and Golders Green.
The company has warned the leaky pipe is “large” and therefore a repair “will take some time”.
Work to fix the issue was delayed because a tree needed to be removed after being uprooted. The tree has since been taken away which means Thames Water can now start digging to the damaged section of the pipe.
However, the supplier has warned the repair is “complex” and shortly after 1.15pm said it could take “several hours”.
The A41 closure by Fiveways Corner. Credit: Google Maps
Thames Water says it has several tankers in the area that will feed water directly into its network to keep taps running for as many customers as possible.
Some homes may have seen a return of their supply but water pressure is still likely to be lower than usual. Those living on higher ground are likely to see problems persist for longer, and some properties might still not have any water at all.
Bottled water is reportedly being delivered to customers who need extra care from around 12.30pm onwards.
Thames Water has opened a drive-through bottled water station in the Scholars Car Park, Middlesex University London, The Burroughs, NW4 4BT for affected customers.
However, demand has been so high, they’ve run out of bottles and have temporarily closed the water station (as of 4.45pm).
The site will initially set to stay open until 9pm today (December 11) and reopen in the morning.
Customers with access to water in the affected areas should use it sparingly for now.
The A41 this morning. Credit: London Fire Brigade
Thames Water added on its website: “We’re really sorry if you’ve woken up this morning to find you have low pressure or no water. It’s due to a large burst pipe in Westside, NW4, which happened just after 3am.
“This is one of our biggest pipes in the area and could take some time to repair. We’re really sorry if this has disrupted your day.
“We’re grateful for your understanding and patience while we work to fix this.”
The London Fire Brigade tweeted at around 7am: “Firefighters are assisting @thameswater with a burst water main in #Hendon. The A41 is closed in both directions at the moment which is causing traffic disruption in the local area.”
To keep updated, visit https://www.thameswater.co.uk/network-latest/nw4-11th-december-2021
https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/19778100.homes-north-west-london-without-water-pipe-burst-a41/
