Approximately 9,500 properties across west Devon remain affected by a significant burst water main that occurred on Monday. South West Water (SWW) confirmed this substantial disruption early Tuesday morning, with an estimated 13,000 homes and businesses still experiencing reduced water pressure or complete loss of supply. The initial incident impacted areas including Tavistock, Bere Alston, and Yelverton, disrupting services at schools, leisure centers, and local businesses.
SWW teams are currently focused on carefully recharging the complex network to ensure a safe and thorough restoration of water supplies. This process is expected to take considerable time due to the size and intricacy of the distribution system. Spokesperson David Harris emphasized that immediate full restoration cannot occur until the network has been properly refilled, highlighting potential delays for residents.
Several local institutions have already been forced to close temporarily. Horrabridge Primary and Nursery School remained closed on Tuesday due to a lack of water, citing difficulties in obtaining further information from SWW. Whitchurch Community Primary School also made the decision to close, acknowledging the disruption to families. Nuffield Health Devonshire leisure centre in Plymouth was similarly impacted.
To assist those affected, South West Water has established multiple water collection points strategically located across the region – at The George Park and Ride, Bere Alston Bowling Club, and Knightstone Tearooms in Yelverton. They are also continuing to provide bottled water as a priority for vulnerable customers, and a fourth station is scheduled to open in Whitchurch.
SWW has stated that it’s ‘very sorry’ to its customers, noting that the company didn’t intend this disruption and is responding responsibly to minimize further delays. They are actively working with schools to maintain operations where possible and acknowledge the impact on families. Furthermore, SWW will be offering compensation payments as a gesture of goodwill to those affected, adhering to Ofwat regulations which guarantee automatic compensation for extended supply interruptions. The company anticipates providing more specific details regarding compensation amounts in due course.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of aging infrastructure and the potential for significant disruption when water mains fail. Residents are advised to check SWW’s website and social media channels for regular updates on the restoration progress.
