Thousands of residents in Flintshire, North Wales, have been left without running water for a second consecutive day, just as parts of the country prepare for this year’s fourth heatwave.
The widespread disruption follows a major burst water main in Broughton, cutting supplies across multiple towns and villages.
Welsh Water confirmed that the burst main is expected to be repaired by Friday afternoon. However, full restoration of supplies may not be completed until Sunday due to the risk of further bursts across the extensive 500km network. The outage is affecting communities in Flint, Holywell, Ffynnongroyw, Greenfield, Llanerch y Mor, Mostyn, Oakenholt, Talacre, Whitford, Aston, Queensferry, Hawarden, Ewloe, Mancot, Garden City, Shotton, Northop, Deeside and surrounding areas.
The shortage has led to long queues at bottled water stations set up across Flintshire, with residents, community groups, and volunteers delivering supplies to vulnerable people, including the elderly and disabled. The disruption has also forced the postponement of two Cymru Premier football matches.
Local businesses and attractions have been hit hard, with Greenacres Animal Park voicing concerns over the welfare of its animals, some of which require large quantities of water daily. Community organisations, including Deeside Roundtable, have been delivering bottled water to those unable to collect it themselves.
Residents report significant challenges in daily life, from basic hygiene needs to keeping cool during the warm weather. Some have had to travel to other towns to collect water, adding further strain during the supply crisis.
Welsh Water’s chief executive has apologised to customers, stating that teams are working around the clock to repair the damaged 30-inch water main, located 16 feet underground. Safety concerns and the complexity of the repair have delayed the process.
The company explained that a repair carried out the previous weekend, intended to be permanent, began leaking again, prompting the latest disruption.
Flintshire County Council confirmed that fire services have been assisting with the distribution of bottled water.
Councillors have urged residents to verify if they are on the priority assistance list to ensure they receive the necessary support during the outage.
Welsh Water has pledged to continue prioritising the most vulnerable residents until normal supplies are restored.
