Thames Water restores supply to half of 10,000 homes after five-day outage
Residents in 14 east London and Essex postcodes still face low pressure or no water after second burst main
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Thames Water has fixed one of two burst water mains in South Woodford, restoring supply to some of the 10,000 homes affected by a five-day outage. The second burst, on Chigwell Road, remains unresolved, leaving residents in parts of Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Epping Forest with low pressure or no water since Saturday.
The company said water should be fully restored by Wednesday morning, though some households reported ongoing issues. Affected postcodes include E4, E10, E11, E17, E18, IG2, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9, IG10 and RM4.
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Priority customers left without deliveries
Thames Water said it would deliver water to customers registered as dependent on its priority services. Some residents on the register told the BBC on Tuesday that no deliveries had arrived. The company did not explain why.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, said he was in urgent contact with Thames Water over the outages. He called the situation critical and unacceptable. Hudson pressed the company to improve support for priority customers, set up more water stations and communicate more clearly.
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I am pressing them to improve their support for priority customers and provide further water stations and improve their communications.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest
Bottled water points open
Temporary water distribution points opened at Fairlop Ice Kingdom on Fairlop Road, Ilford, and New City College in Loughton on Wednesday morning. Thames Water said staff would load vehicles for residents and asked people to take only what they needed.
Bills rose 40% in April
Thames Water increased customer bills by 40% in April 2025. The company was fined a record £122.7m by regulator Ofwat last year, primarily for failing to meet sewage spill targets. In July, it paid its finance chief a £1m signing-on fee, as reported by the BBC.
What happens next
Thames Water has not given a timeframe for fixing the second burst main on Chigwell Road. Residents can check for updates on the company’s website or call its emergency line. Those without water can collect bottled supplies from the two distribution points.
Questions this report answers
+Which areas are still without water?
Residents in 14 postcodes, including parts of Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Epping Forest, still face low pressure or no water. The second burst main on Chigwell Road, South Woodford, remains unfixed. Thames Water has not confirmed when supply will be restored.
+How can I get bottled water if my supply is cut off?
Thames Water has set up distribution points at Fairlop Ice Kingdom, Ilford, and New City College, Loughton. Staff will load water into vehicles. Residents are asked to take only what they need. No walk-up service is available.
+Why did Thames Water increase bills by 40%?
Thames Water raised bills by 40% in April 2025. The company said the increase was needed to fund infrastructure improvements. It was fined £122.7m by Ofwat last year for breaching sewage spill rules, as reported by the BBC.
+What should I do if I’m a priority customer but haven’t received water?
Thames Water said it would deliver water to priority customers, but some reported no deliveries. Residents can call the company’s emergency line or visit a distribution point. Dr Neil Hudson MP has pressed Thames Water to improve support.
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