Muddy Floodwaters Swamp Dartford After Major Burst Water Main
Chaos hit Dartford as a huge water main burst, sending muddy water rushing into homes and flooding local streets. Residents scrambled to move their cars as the gushing water and mud poured from two giant holes, turning the neighbourhood into a muddy mess.
Fix Could Take Up to Two Weeks, Thousands Without Water
Thames Water confirmed the main pipe damage is severe and repairs could take as long as two weeks. Around 9:30pm on Sunday, engineers shut off the water supply, leaving thousands of homes in Dartford without running water. Thames Water rushed specialist teams to the scene to restore supply as soon as possible.
“Thank you for informing us about low water pressure and no water in DA1, DA2, and DA9. Our specialist engineers have now arrived in the area and are working hard to restore your water supply as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused you. We’ll notify you as soon as we have an update.”
Flood Amid Drought and Upcoming Hosepipe Ban
Ironically, Dartford’s floodwaters come as swathes of London and the South East face hosepipe bans due to a crippling drought and record dry spells. Last month was the UK’s driest July since 1935, with a relentless heatwave pushing temperatures to 29°C in the capital this weekend.
South East Water, which serves 2.2 million customers, has already banned hosepipe use in Kent and Sussex starting August 12, with restrictions on watering gardens, cleaning cars, and filling swimming pools or ornamental ponds.
Residents Face Long Road to Recovery
While heaps of mud and water swirl through Dartford streets, residents now face weeks without a proper water supply and damaged roads. Thames Water’s lengthy repair timeline means life will be tough as the community deals with the aftermath of this major water leak during a scorching heatwave.
