Thames Water repairs to last for six more days in Surrey

Repairs to a burst water main which caused up 15,000 properties to lose water or have low pressure are expected to last for six more days, Thames Water has announced.

The water main burst on 28 September, affecting people in areas of Surrey including Thames Ditton, Esher, and Sunbury, as well as south-west London.

The water company said in its latest statement that the affected section of the main had been uncovered, so the team was removing the damaged pipe and preparing the area for its replacement.

Water has now been restored to all customers and Thames Water said it anticipated no further disruptions, even during the works, as temporary measures were now in place.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “We’re sorry for the disruption this work is causing, particularly any additional traffic, vehicles and activity around the area.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of local residents and customers while our teams work to complete this essential repair safely.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Labour Party conference on Tuesday he wanted to repeal the “ideological ban on public ownership of water companies”.

He said this would put the UK on a 10-year path to a “very different water system” — although there was not an explicit commitment to renationalisation.