A burst water main and pump failure in Dereham have caused widespread water supply disruption and flooding, leaving hundreds of residents with little to no water and forcing two local businesses to close temporarily. Girling Road is currently flooded, with torrents of water spreading across the street, while complaints have been reported from homes across Highfields, Quebec Road, Sandy Lane, Theatre Street, Becclesgate, Moorgate, Etling View, Northgate, Fox Road and Oak Road. Residents in Swanton Morley have also reported problems with their supply.
Anglian Water said some customers in Dereham may be experiencing either very low water pressure or no water at all because of an issue with one of the pumps that moves water around the network. The company apologised for the disruption and said it was aiming to restore normal service by 9.30pm, based on the latest information available.
The outage has affected local life in the town, with the Red Lion Pub and the Orion Cinema both temporarily closed while the incident continues. Some areas have since had their water restored, but many households remain without supply.
The disruption comes as Dereham faces high temperatures, with the mercury expected to peak at 28C on Sunday afternoon. One resident, speaking anonymously, said they currently have no cold water and were unhappy that Anglian Water had said bottled water would not be provided, despite the supply issue expected to last more than eight hours. The resident said this was particularly unacceptable on what they described as the hottest day of the year, when staying hydrated is especially important.
Anglian Water has not given a further update beyond its estimated restoration time, and residents continue to wait for water pressure and supply to return to normal.
