Earlier tonight was the article about the burst water pipe in Tilling Drive. Actually, it wasn’t a mains pipe at all, it was a fill-up point for fire engines.
Shortly after 8am this morning as works started for the day (and I got woken up!!!) the men started angle grinding around the metal blocks within the newly laid pavement. They started on the block in particular and as it was so 0ld and used, the vibrations caused the valve to crack and explode. Following the explosion a great 20ft high jet of ice-cold water normally used for filling fire engines filled the air and gave the cars a free wash, and even a couple of people.
Workmen tried to stop the jet but failed and got soaked. Back-up and dry clothes were called in as normal work proceeded on other metal blocks. However, the drama wasn’t over. A crew arrived, but having been told it was a mains water pipe they did not have the correct equipment to stop the flow!
Another team was called and arrived shortly after 10am and the jet was stopped around 10.30am. The amount of water lost is unimaginable and the cost the same.
Thanks to Jack Taylor for this post
Related Posts:
2 comments
Stonefishdaddy
We drove by and saw the ‘Tilling Drive Fountain’ and a poor workman who was in the middle of trying to ‘turn the tap off’. By the time we returned from our shopping trip everything was back to normal. I can’t imagine that in light of recent downpours the amount of water lost will cause a local shortage and that the cost of the repair is that huge. The only surprise is that no-one took up the opportunity to set up a Hand Car Wash and charge passers by £3 for the basic wash – they seem to be on every street corner nowadays!
jvictor7
Wish I’d seen it!
—– Reply message —–