Hi,
first post here. I'm a new reporter at the Staffordshire Newsletter and will be trying my best to keep people informed in situations like the one this morning.
The guys I spoke to at Severn Trent were hugely apologetic and very forthcoming. They told me that an 8 inch pipe, serving around 4,000 burst at 4.30am this morning. They had isolated the leak by 7.30am and by that time the majority of people who lost water should have had it back on. After that the only problem anyone should have experienced was lower water pressure.
They said they were 'rezoning' water from nearby areas to try to make up for the gap caused by the breakage, and while they wouldn't give me an exact time by which they would have completely resolved the problem, the suggestion was that it should be fixed by 6 or 7 this evening.
They did say that no one should continue to see discolouration and advised anyone that did to give them a call on 02477 715640.
The four-way traffic lights around the spot they were working on will stay in place till around midday tomorrow probably when the road surface has been put back the way they found it.
On another note, I talked to John Wheeldon Primary School and it sounds like they handled the incident admirably, noticing almost immediately that the water was off and starting a ring-around early on. Most parents were informed and didn't waste time and effort bringing their kids into school only to be turned away again. Most teachers were sent home too, with a few remaining to catch up on work, and the headmaster sticking around for a meeting.
Robin