Cold snap bursts record number of Bristol water pipes
A record number of burst water pipes in Bristol have been caused as they thawed out after freezing during the cold spell.
Bristol Water reported that at any one time this week at least 250 properties had been affected.
Meanwhile, a "substantial amount" of sound and lighting equipment was damaged at Panache nightclub in All Saints' Street after a pipe burst in the building's heating system.
Water gushed across the road outside Bristol Children's Hospital yesterday morning, when an eight-inch main burst on Upper Maudlin Street.
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Dramatic scenes also greeted residents in Knowle, where a 12-inch trunk water main burst on a bridge over a scrap yard at the bottom of Talbot Road.
A spokesman for Bristol Water said: "The simple reason for all the burst mains is the sudden thaw – the change in temperature causes sharp ground movement and that is more than enough to cause the leaks and bursts.
"It has happened before but the numbers we are seeing now are unprecedented."
Fire crews were called to Panache in the early hours of Monday after reports of flooding.
Amish Bakrania, operations director at Panache, told the Evening Post that it is thought a water pipe burst in the heating system and damaged the club's sound and lighting management system.
"The team is working incredibly hard and making every effort to restore our sound and lighting in time for our New Year's Eve party which will still go ahead," he said.
Contractor Daniels, working for Bristol Water, isolated and fixed the burst main outside the BRI yesterday and the hospital's water supply was not affected. The burst pipe on Talbot Hill is yet to be fixed as a crane and scaffolding is needed to gain access to it. The water supply is not affected.
Other locations where there have been leakages include: Fishpool Hill, Brentry; Hampstead Road and Smeaton Road, Brislington; Brockhurst Gardens, Kingswood; Gloucester Road North, Filton; St David's Crescent, St Anne's; Challenger Avenue, Henbury; Chew Lane, Frenchay; Bishport Close and Lampton Grove, Hartcliffe
A spokesman said: "Up to 29 crews each day have been trying to fix the leaks, with five crews working throughout the night.
"In one 24-hour period this week 1,000 customers rang Bristol Water's helpline and at any one time at least 250 properties have been affected in the Bristol area.
"Our priority, as ever, is to first fix leaks which are actually affecting supplies to customers."
Avon Fire and Rescue Service also reported a high number of burst pipes as the big thaw continued.
Firefighters were called out to more than 60 flooded homes across Bristol and North Somerset on Bank Holiday Monday after alarms were triggered by water leaks.
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