Water restored for some Devon properties after burst main

Water supplies have been restored for some properties across west Devon following a burst main, South West Water (SWW) has said.

The water company said at about 07:30 BST on Wednesday its customers should now be back in supply, but some schools and businesses said they were still not restored.

Thousands of properties in Plymouth, Bere Alston, Yelverton, and Tavistock lost supplies following a burst water main on Sunday.

On Tuesday, SWW said the 13,000 properties who experienced a loss of water supply would receive £200 compensation.

A spokesperson for SWW said: “We are pleased to say that customers should now be back in supply.

“We want to apologise again for the inconvenience this has caused, but we would also like to thank all of our customers for their patience and kindness to our teams on the ground providing bottled water.”

Whitchurch Community Primary School said it had taken the decision to close for the second day in a row as it was experiencing “water issues”.

On social media, the school said: “I apologise in advance for any disruption caused.

“I hope you all manage to access some water today and hopefully see everyone back at school tomorrow.”

Devon County Council also confirmed Bickleigh Down Church Of England Primary School, in Plymouth, was closed on Wednesday due to the lack of water.

Horrabridge Primary School, which was closed due to having no water on Tuesday, said it still did not have supplies on Wednesday but would be opening to its students.

The head teacher said SWW was providing the school with 12 portable toilets which were due to arrive before 09:00.

Bere Alston Primary Academy said it had to send students home on Wednesday morning due to having no water.

The school said it had water supplies when it checked at about 07:00 but by 09:30 it had gone again.

It said the school had attempted to contact SWW, but had been unable to speak to the company.

SWW has been contacted for more information.

The Nuffield Health Devonshire leisure centre in Derriford, Plymouth, said it remained closed due to the water issues, as well as Plymouth Marjon University, including the Marjon Sport and Health Centre.

SWW said its water network was “back in operation”.

It said: “It can take time for water to flow throughout the network due to topography and increasing demand, but we are monitoring our systems carefully and can confirm water is flowing throughout the network.”

Customers still experiencing ongoing problems as isolated issues were likely to be affected by an air lock, SWW said, and those affected should contact it.

Four bottled water stations it has set up will remain open until 22:00 on Wednesday, and staff will continue to make deliveries to its priority service customers.

The stations are located at The George Park and Ride, Bere Alston Bowling Club, Knightstone Tearooms in Yelverton and Morrisons in Tavistock.

Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said on Wednesday residents were “furious” and could not understand why SWW had communicated “so poorly”.

He said: “Despite assurances from SWW yesterday it would be back this morning, schools and businesses [are] deciding this morning they cannot open.”

Thomas said he had also “demanded an improved compensation package”.

He said in the company has told him the total payment for household customers was expected to be £250, and the figure for business customers was expected to be £500.

On Tuesday, the company said household customers would receive £200, and businesses £400.

SWW said: “Recognising the impact on customers and communities, we will credit impacted customers as set out in our revised Customer Promise for 2025, guaranteeing a £50 payment per 12 hours without service, and £50 for each subsequent 12-hour period.

“This is over and above the current statutory amounts of £20 per 12 hours, and £10 per subsequent 24-hour period. The total payment to household customers is expected to be £250.

“Business customers will receive a £100 payment per 12 hours and £100 for each subsequent 12-hour period, again over and above the current statutory payments of £50 per 12 hours and £25 for each subsequent 12-hour period.”

The company said as water cames back into service, it was normal to expect discolouration, which should clear after running the cold kitchen tap.

“It is also common for air to become trapped in the supply, or within the internal plumbing,” SWW said.

Customers still experiencing no water have been advised by the water company to follow “simple steps” to check for air locks.

It said to turn on the internal stop-tap on and off three times to release any air while the cold kitchen tap was running, and to check the external stop-tap was open, if safe to do so.