Ottery water problem a mystery

A MYSTERY problem which left Ottery residents with a contaminated water supply on Saturday could have affected as many as 150 homes in the town.

A MYSTERY problem which left Ottery residents with a contaminated water supply on Saturday could have affected as many as 150 homes in the town.

South West Water is at a loss to explain why house-holders in and around Chineway Gardens were left unable to drink form their taps or wash, for hours on Saturday after their water supply turned brown.

Water was left gushing from a main on the street for more than 24-hours as engineers tried to tackle the problem.

A South West Water spokesman said: "The discolouration of water seen by customers hit a wide area. No burst, which would cause something like that, has been reported on our systems.

"The only thing we can put it down to is a hydrant, like those used by the fire service, and council to clean, possibly being used improperly and this causing air to get into the system and a change of pressure in the mains. There is no way of proving it.

"Our engineers went out at about 11am (on Saturday) and a flushing out of the systems took place which was left it until it ran clear and was deemed to be back to normal.