Village water supply cut after mains pipe bursts

RESIDENTS in Sonning Common and surrounding villages were left with no water supply this morning (Monday) after a mains pipe burst.

Schools had to be closed for the day after residents woke up to find there was very low or no water supply throughout the village.

Most of the schools in the area were forced to close including Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, Sonning Common Primary, Little Birches Nursery and Bishopswood School.

Kidmore End Primary School was able to remain open as their water supply was not impacted by the disruption.

Thames Water released an update at 6.30am to say that there was a leak at a reservoir and that engineers were investigating the issue.

It released another update at 11am which said that a burst water pipe had been located on Reades Lane and the water had been shut off from the affected pipe.

Employees were working to move water from other parts of the network to return water supply to the area as soon as possible.

The water company set up a water bottle collection bank outside Tesco in Reading Road in Henley after the Co-op in Wood Lane sold out of bottled water at 7.30am.

But Sara Underwood, who is the acting clerk to the Sonning Common Parish Council, said that many residents would be unable to travel to Henley to collect water.

She said: “It is an awful situation for all the residents to be in, and I’m finding it very frustrating the lack of communication from Thames water about water bottle station.

“I’ve just got a text message to say that they will be setting up a water station in Henley-on-Thames. We’ve got residents who are elderly, we’ve got residents who are disabled, how are they going to get to Henley, how are residents who don’t drive meant to get to Henley?”

Some residents volunteered to transport water deliveries from the collection station in Henley to the village hall in Sonning Common.

A spokeswoman for Thames Water said: “We’re very sorry to customers across Mapledurham, Sonning Common and Peppard Common, who are experiencing low pressure or no water.

“This is the result of a burst water mains pipe on Reades Lane in Sonning Common. Our team is on the ground and is working to shut the water off from the leaking pipe, ready to carry out the repair. In order to bring our customers back into supply, we are working to move water from others part of our network and have five tankers in operation which will also boost the supply.

“We have also opened a bottled water station at the Tesco Superstore in Henley-On-Thames (RG9 4HA), which will remain open until 9pm. We are also currently looking for other suitable locations.

“In addition, we are delivering water to vulnerable customers on our Priority Service Register.”