Water Restored in Bolton After Burst Pipe Disruption

A burst water main at the junction of Longsight Lane and Hough Fold Way left roads flooded and homes without supply. Residents on nearby streets, including Bradshaw Brow and Longsight Lane, reported no water or very low pressure. One household said they first noticed the problem around 6.30am.

Immediate impact on local streets

Flooding covered parts of the junction and forced cars to drive through standing water. Surface water persisted for several hours. Large puddles remained after crews brought the situation under control.

Cause and engineering assessment

United Utilities confirmed a burst pipe caused the disruption. Engineers believe the supply pipe is roughly 60 years old and has failed. Work crews said they must excavate concrete to locate and repair the damaged section.

Emergency response

Water tankers were brought in to support affected residents. Several Water on Wheels units were stationed around Harwood. Operators warned that discoloured water can occur when sediments are disturbed during repairs.

Local disruption and school closure

Canon Slade School closed for health and safety reasons while the incident continued. School leaders said they had spoken with United Utilities, which could not provide a clear timescale for restoration. Parents were contacted to arrange safe collection, and eligible pupils received grab bags before leaving.

Context and ongoing works

Longsight Lane had already been partially closed for separate roadworks. Residents said ongoing construction had already caused disruption. The burst main added further delay to the local schedule for repairs.

Current status and outlook

Repair work continues on site as engineers replace the ageing pipe. United Utilities apologised to customers and said they are monitoring supplies. Reports later noted Water Restored in Bolton After Burst Pipe Disruption as crews rebalanced the network and tanker support was withdrawn.