Burst water mains cause disruption across New Forest

Around 300 customers lost their water supply or experienced low pressure after six mains burst across Eling, Totton and Marchwood on Thursday.

Southern Water said four repairs were complete by Friday, while investigations continued at two sites.

Tankers were supporting some areas, but Southern Water said customer supplies were otherwise unaffected.

Down’s Park Road resident Steven Roach said: “From my perspective it’s going to be a big job from the way the road has moved.”

He added: “I think they’re not only going to have to fix the leak, it’s a matter of making good where all the road lifted up.”

He said: “It’s a major operation in terms of getting it back to where it needs to be.”

Steven said he hoped residents would not have to worry about using the road again, adding: “Hopefully it’s a one-off but who knows.

“It’s a worry that something like that could happen again for other reasons.”

New Forest district councillor Caroline Rackham said: “It is the impact on the road more than anything else at the moment.

“The Southern Water officers that came were good, but it just shows how old the infrastructure is and how much we need it sorted.

“The road closure is going to go on for quite a while and it is a bit of a nightmare junction as it is a major junction so that will go on for a while.”

She added: “It was horrendous, the flooding was just everywhere.

“My biggest worry was obviously people’s houses but it seems the sewage system coped with it, presumably because we haven’t had enough rain.”

Down’s Park Crescent resident Sarah McMann was away when the flooding struck but grew concerned after hearing from her daughter at home.

She said: “I was really worried about damage to the house, I was like get the sandbags and cover the grates.

“I thought it might turn into a sinkhole.”

She added: “My daughter got a right scare because she could see the road starting to shift.”

Downs Park Crescent resident, Zoe King, 38, said: “I thought it was ridiculous."

“The roadworks don’t worry me much but I am worried about it happening again, it shouldn’t be happening at all really.”

Stephanie Lewis, 39, said floodwater reached her car’s wheels, forcing her to park it on a different street.

She said: “I don’t think this should be happening at all.”

Southern Water identified six burst locations.

Repairs are complete at Cedar Ridge, Hunters Hill, and The Retreat, Totton, while road reinstatement continues at Trotts Lane, Eling.

Investigations continue at Grove Lodge, Eling Hill, and Marchwood Road, Totton.

A leak at Lloyd Avenue, Marchwood, has been temporarily repaired.