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Burst main hits water supplies Water restored after main burst
(about 18 hours later)
Thousands of homes in the east end and north of Glasgow have been left without water after contractors burst a 24in main in the Gorbals area. Water supplies have been restored to thousands of homes in Glasgow after contractors burst a 24-inch water main on Wednesday.
Homes and businesses have been affected in Gorbals, Rutherglen, Oatlands, Port Dundas, Carntyne, Dennistoun, Royston, Firhill, Possilpark and Springburn. Scottish Water said only a small number of properties, in the vicinity of the burst in the Gorbals, were waiting to be reconnected.
Scottish Water said it hoped to have restored supplies by the afternoon. Crown Street, where the burst main happened, has now re-opened to traffic. Flooding also forced an evacuation of students from Glasgow Nautical College. It will not re-open until Tuesday.
Flooding caused by the incident closed Crown Street and Florence Street along with the city's Albert Bridge. The burst, which happened at about 0830 BST, caused a loss of water supply to homes and businesses in the east end and north of the city.
The main building of Glasgow Nautical College was flooded along with the swimming pool and underground car park. Gorbals, Rutherglen, Oatlands, Carntyne, Dennistoun, Royston, Port Dundas, Firhill, Possilpark and Springburn were all affected.
The college and nearby Thistle Nursery on the campus had to be evacuated. The burst also caused flooding in Crown Street and Adelphi Street in the Gorbals and the closure of the Albert Bridge, which crosses the River Clyde to Saltmarket.
Students have been told that the college will not reopen until Tuesday at the earliest. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue deployed 25 firefighters to pump floodwater into the Clyde
Traffic lights around the burst main in the Gorbals area have also been switched off. I would be interested to know exactly how many people were without water today and for how long Bob DorisSNP MSP for Glasgow Scottish Water then used a road sweeper and a vactor (vacum truck) to clean Crown Street and adjacent streets.
Scottish Water apologises for any inconvenience caused to our customers Jim HassanScottish Water regional manager Jim Hassan, Scottish Water's regional manager, said: "The burst to the pipe happened while an external contractor was carrying out work in Crown Street. This work was not being carried out for Scottish Water.
Scottish Water said the mains pipe was damaged by "external contractors" who were working in Crown Street in the Gorbals area on Wednesday morning. "Scottish Water engineers were on site immediately to shut off the affected pipeline and redistribute the network.
Strathclyde Police has put a traffic diversion in place and Scottish Water is liaising with police and travel operators. "That was our priority and our engineers worked as quickly as they could to ensure that the affected customers had their normal supplies restored as soon as possible.
Jim Hassan, Scottish Water's regional manager, said: "Scottish Water engineers were on site immediately in order to shut off the affected pipeline and are currently working to redistribute the network. "Scottish Water apologises for any inconvenience caused to our customers and would like to thank them for their patience."
"Our priority is to isolate the burst. This has been delayed because of the extent of the flooding which has affected our ability to access the valves at the location. College closed
"We expect to have customers' water supply restored by early this afternoon. The incident caused serious disruption to Glasgow Nautical College and the cost of repairs could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"Scottish Water apologises for any inconvenience caused to our customers and we will keep them fully informed on the progress of our work."
Public safety
Commander John Alexander, of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, said 25 firefighters were sent to the scene to pump floodwater into the Clyde.
"The water board are turning off the water valves as quickly as they can locate them, but the whole operation will take most of the day," he said.
"Our main aim is to remove the water as quickly as possible and at the same time ensure the safety of the public."
The incident has caused serious disruption to Glasgow Nautical College and the cost of repairs could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Classrooms in the college, the underground car park and the swimming pool were damaged, as well as many cars parked in surrounding streets.Classrooms in the college, the underground car park and the swimming pool were damaged, as well as many cars parked in surrounding streets.
I would be interested to know exactly how many people were without water today and for how long Bob DorisSNP MSP for Glasgow Acting principal, Richard Speight, said: "Mopping-up operations are now ongoing but the major impact to the college is the loss of power. Acting principal, Richard Speight, said: "Mopping-up operations are now ongoing but the major impact to the college is the loss of power.
"As this weekend is a holiday we have decided to close the college until Tuesday 30 September. Our engineers worked as quickly as they could to ensure that the affected customers had their normal supplies restored as soon as possible Jim HassanScottish Water "As this weekend is a holiday we have decided to close the college until Tuesday 30 September.
"Those students who can go home are doing so. However there are approximately 175 students from overseas or distant parts of the UK for whom accommodation will have to be found."Those students who can go home are doing so. However there are approximately 175 students from overseas or distant parts of the UK for whom accommodation will have to be found.
"We are obviously working to achieve this as a matter of priority and would expect all to be offered suitable accommodation by the end of today.""We are obviously working to achieve this as a matter of priority and would expect all to be offered suitable accommodation by the end of today."
SNP MSP for Glasgow, Bob Doris, said he was "deeply concerned" about the magnitude of the disruption.SNP MSP for Glasgow, Bob Doris, said he was "deeply concerned" about the magnitude of the disruption.
"Householders from Firhill in the west end right through to Rutherglen have lost their water supply. "Householders from Firhill in the west end right through to Rutherglen lost their water supply.
"I would be interested to know exactly how many people were without water today and for how long.""I would be interested to know exactly how many people were without water today and for how long."
Mr Doris said that he had been told the "expensive mop-up and repair operation" would "not affect the bills of ordinary customers".Mr Doris said that he had been told the "expensive mop-up and repair operation" would "not affect the bills of ordinary customers".