Thames Water: burst mains have risen by half in cold snap

The number of burst water mains across London and the Thames Valley has increased by 50 per cent since the start of December, Thames Water revealed today.

The water company attributed the rise to plummeting temperatures, explaining that when water running through pipes reaches 5 degrees Celsius or below, it results in the pipes, particularly old cast-iron pipes, contracting. Thames Water said around 1,000 leaking and burst pipes have been reported over the past 12 days. 

The water supplier urged households to lag pipes in the home to avoid pipes cracking. Cracks can be caused by water freezing and expanding in cold temperatures. 

Tim McMahon, Thames Water’s winter operations manager, said: “The cold poses a real risk to your home, particularly your water pipes as when water freezes it expands which can cause pipes to crack. If your pipes burst it can cause a lot of damage and expense, but protecting your home and pipes is relatively cheap and easy to do, and can save you a lot of hassle in the long run.”