More than a dozen schools in Oxfordshire have been forced to close after a burst water main caused widespread supply issues. The broken pipe, located next to Oxford Road in Eynsham, has left thousands of homes and schools without water or with low pressure.
Thames Water described the excavation of the broken pipe as “complex” due to its size, location in a field, and excessive groundwater. The affected areas include postcodes OX7, OX18, OX28, OX29, and GL7, with schools in Burford, Carterton, and Witney among those impacted.
Liberal Democrat MP for Witney, Charlie Maynard, expressed concern over the disruption, stating: “Schools are closed, some are hanging on to the end of the day. That’s incredibly disruptive to the kids and to the parents, having to drop work and go pick up kids.” Bottled water stations have been set up at Sainsbury's and Morrisons in Witney, and at Morrisons in Carterton.
Thames Water confirmed that the problem was fixed on Thursday evening, but refilling the network will take time. The company has pumped over 3.5 million litres of water into the area and warned that customers may experience delays before supply returns to normal. It added that water may initially appear discoloured, which is normal.
The company apologised for the issue and thanked customers for their patience. It urged residents who may need extra help to sign up to its priority services register.
