Blackburn: Homes and businesses without water following burst pipe

Staff from United Utilities were working to mend the pipe at a section of Darwen Street on the junction of Weir Street close to the town centre.

Some businesses in the area were without any water and the affects of the incident were being felt for miles. A water tanker was parked on Darwen Street and parts of the road had been cordoned off to traffic.

Other areas of the town had seen a noticeable lack of water pressure.

Ice Hussain of Iceberg Supplements is based directly next to where the pipe burst earlier this morning.

He said it was the second such ‘disaster’ to befall the business after a car went into the front of the property in 2018.

He said: “We had to close the business this morning as water came gushing on to the pavement.

“It flooded our business and neighbouring store Nybble IT was also affected.

“It all started at 8.30am when another business came to open his store and he notified us of the calamity happening outside our shop.

“We are absolutely mortified at this as we still trying to recover from the first incident of the car crash some years back and then having to be shut through Covid.”

Residents across the town had been affected. One homeowner on Wensley Road said they had been without water for 'several hours'.

He said: “The pressure went low and then we have no water at all now. It has been like this for the whole street I think.

“We have been without water for most of the afternoon.”

United Utilities had alerted residents via text as to the disruption in the area.  A fleet of water tankers have been díspatched to affected areas.

A message read: “We're currently investigating a problem in your area, which may mean you have no water, or low water pressure.

"We're sorry for any inconvenience this is causing, we are working as quickly as we can to get this sorted and have your taps flowing again.

“Just to let you know, we have found the cause of no water or low pressure to be due to the leak on junction of Jubilee Street and Darwen Street.

"Our team are on site and ready to begin the repair. Sorry for any inconvenience."

The latest statement from United Utilities said: "You may notice our fleet of water tankers in your area, they are pumping extra water into the pipes to keep your taps flowing and toilets flushing whilst we carry out repairs to the leak in the area.

"Our teams will be working throughout the night to minimise disturbance to your water supply. We're sorry for any inconvenience caused."