More on KentOnline
This is the moment a burst underground pipe sent water jetting more than 10 feet into the air flooding a road.
Frustrated residents have slammed South East Water (SEW) after the striking scenes unfolded at Tenterden’s rural Chennell Park Road late last night.
It comes after nearby mains in Grange Road ruptured yesterday while, lately, the town has suffered low water pressure.
Describing how hundreds of gallons gushed down Chennell Park Road during a commute home, a resident said: “There’s a lot of pressure coming through and a large amount of water running down the road.
“I use it often, and this is an issue that’s been going on for a while, with frequent works on pipes and the road running with water.
“They’ve repaired it in the past, but it’s already caused a lot of damage to the road.”
The leak was due to the breaking of a temporary pressure valve designed to protect the mains from bursting, SEW says.
Other residents expressed their dismay on social media, with one branding recent issues “one botched repair after another”.
Alastair Cowin commented: “I’m no plumber, but (the word) ‘leak’ doesn’t really do that justice.
Tony Davison added: “Never known anywhere with so many water issues. Surely somebody should be held to account.”
Last night, the water main on Grange Road in Tenterden burst, however, SEW confirmed it was fixed at 10.50am today.
The town has also suffered from low water pressure.
The utility provider says this is because of the temporary removal of a drinking water storage tank that feeds the area for maintenance and repairs.
SEW distribution manager Garth Haselgrove said: “We are very sorry to our customers in the Tenterden area, who have been experiencing lower-than-normal water pressure in recent months.
“In addition, we’re currently dealing with a high number of burst water mains and leaks across our supply area because of ground movement caused by the recent thaw following the freezing conditions.
“We’re also carrying out upgrades at our nearby Cranbrook site to help improve resilience in the area and reduce customer supply interruptions.
“We apologise to our customers for the ongoing issues, and we thank them for their patience and understanding while we work to resolve these.”
The firm said work is underway today to repair Chennell Park Road and will be completed “as quickly as possible”.