The cause of a catastrophic water main burst in Gloucester’s Matson area remains a mystery five days after the incident. Early on Wednesday, May 14, around 6:18 a.m., a burst water pipe violently ejected concrete and debris into the air, creating a powerful jet of water that lasted nearly eight hours.
The explosion severely damaged a nearby home listed at £1.1 million, shattering roof tiles and breaking windows from flying rubble. The force of the water also flooded Sneedhams Road, disrupting local traffic and leaving some residents without running water.
Severn Trent Water, the utility company responsible for the infrastructure, confirmed that their teams are still on site working to complete repairs. Luke Coles, Regional Operations Lead at Severn Trent, expressed gratitude for the community’s patience, saying, “We sincerely apologise for the disruption caused and thank residents for their understanding as we work to restore normal service.”
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During the incident, water sprayed nearly 100 feet into the air, noticeably impacting the adjacent neighborhood. Bottled water was provided to affected residents while engineers diligently worked to halt the leak, which finally ceased around 2 p.m., nearly eight hours after it began.
The event serves as a stark reminder of the essential need for robust infrastructure maintenance and swift emergency response. Severn Trent Water remains committed to resolving the issue and preventing future occurrences.