Thousands in west Devon remain affected after burst water pipe

Thousands of properties are still without water supplies following a burst pipe in west Devon.

South West Water (SWW) confirmed on Tuesday morning 9,500 properties were still experiencing a loss of water supply or lower water pressure than usual, after the initial burst on Monday.

A spokesperson for the water company said teams were “carefully recharging the network” to fully restore supplies for its customers in places including Tavistock, Bere Alston and Yelverton.

“This is a large and complex system, and it needs to refill properly and safely before we can bring it fully back into supply,” they said.

“That’s why it may take a bit more time for all customers to see their water return.

“Our absolute priority is getting supplies back to everyone as quickly as we can, and we want to thank customers for their continued patience and understanding.”

SWW said its most vulnerable customers had received “prioritised support” throughout the incident and it would continue to provide bottle water where needed.

The company said bottled water stations remained open for anyone who needed them while the system refills.

They are located at The George Park and Ride, Bere Alston Bowling Club, and Knightstone Tearooms inYelverton.

“We’ll keep customers updated as supply returns,” added the spokesperson.

The company also said compensation payments will be available to those affected, “as a gesture of goodwill and to make amends”.

In a message to customers on social media, it said: “We understand how crucial access to water is, and we are committed to providing you with fair compensation for the inconvenience experienced.

“We will provide further updates on the specific compensation amounts in due course.

“We’re grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding while we’ve worked to put things right.”