Peter Fortune MP is in regular contact with Thames Water about the water supply issues in Biggin Hill. Please find the latest update below. If you or your family need help, please email [email protected].
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Sunday 01 December - Morning update
I've received a further update from Thames Water this morning on Biggin Hill's water supply.
I'm told only two homes are still experiencing interruptions in their supply, and 85 more have low pressure.
Thames Water fixed the water main overnight, allowing the local reservoir to start refilling. This process will continue throughout the day, increasing supply. In the meantime, tankers will inject more water into the network.
When running your tap for the first time, you may notice cloudy water. This is normal and does not pose a health risk; it will clear if you run it for a short time.
The bottled water station reopened at 9am in the Waitrose car park this morning.
Saturday 30 November - Morning update
I've received a new update from Thames Water about the water supply in Biggin Hill.
After rerouting water in the pipe network and using tankers, most of the 2000-plus homes impacted now have water again. However, I'm told 120 homes remain affected.
Thames Water has narrowed down the location of the burst to a 900-meter length of pipe in the Grays Road area. After further testing, they should be able to determine the exact location and fix the pipe. This may disrupt Grays Road.
Until the pipe is fixed, Thames Water will use tankers to pump water into the network to supply the remaining properties. In the meantime, bottled water will be delivered to these homes.
Friday, 29 November - Morning update
This morning, Thames Water provided another update about the water supply problems affecting homes in Biggin Hill.
Thanks to overnight work, many homes now have water again. However, due to the area's topography and the complicated nature of the network, some properties in higher areas are still without water.
Thames Water expects some homes to experience low water pressure and potentially briefly drop out again. However, I am told this will be temporary.
I’m told extra tankers are being brought into the area to increase the network's pressure.
Some homes experience cloudy water when their supplies come back. Thames Water says this is perfectly normal and poses no health risks. If you run your taps for a short period, the water will clear.
The bottled water station at the Waitrose car park reopened this morning. Thames Water will also continue to deliver bottled water to customers on its Priority Service Register.
Thursday, 28 November - Evening update
I have spoken to Thames Water this evening regarding the ongoing water supply problems affecting Biggin Hill.
Engineers have found that a 10-inch mains pipe from Knockholt burst suddenly, causing the outage. I'm told they can now rezone the pipe network and restore water tomorrow.
However, Thames Water has warned that the land's topography means several homes may still experience intermittent supply disruptions or low water pressure. I have asked how long this might last.
Until fixed, Thames Water will continue to provide bottled water, with the station at Waitrose car park remaining open until 9pm. They are looking for a second location for another bottled water station. Thames Water is still delivering bottled water directly to vulnerable residents.
I will post more updates as soon as I receive them.
Thursday, 28 November - Afternoon update
This afternoon, I received a further update from Thames Water regarding bottled water supplies for affected homes.
Thames Water has opened a bottled water station at the Waitrose car park in Biggin Hill. I understand they've dispatched two lorries with bottled water for residents affected by supply outages.
As the car park is small, the station is creating heavy congestion on Main Road in Biggin Hill. Four Thames Water staff members are on-site to help limit disruption and distribute supplies.
They are still attempting to identify the problem.
I will post more updates as soon as I receive them.
Thursday, 28 November - Morning update
Thames Water updated me this morning about the supply outage, which I understand is affecting some homes in Biggin Hill.
Overnight, a team of engineers investigated the issue. While Thames Water believes the issue is a burst pipe, they have yet to identify the source of the problem. Additional engineers are now in the area to find the issue. Until the cause is discovered, they cannot provide a timeline of when service will resume.
I understand this mainly affects Tatsfield and Knockholt, but some homes in Biggin Hill are also affected. Thames Water has brought in tankers to limit the impact on the area.
They are also delivering bottled water to customers on their priority service register and are looking for a location to open a bottled water station as soon as possible. I am enquiring about the impact on Biggin Hill residents and where the bottled water station will be.
