Why there's so many burst water mains at the moment, according to Yorkshire Water

From lengthy road closures in Gilstead to deep puddles in Haworth, the huge bursts have led to traffic delays and diversions for drivers and bus services.

But why are there so many burst water mains at the moment?

Yorkshire Water said its network is currently facing the highest demand for water in over 15 years.

That pressure paired with low rainfall has caused some pipes to fracture easily.

Examples of burst water mains in Leeds and Halifax this August. Pictures: Twitter, First Bus West Yorkshire

In a statement, Yorkshire Water said: “Our pipes have been under a lot of pressure recently – we’ve seen the highest water demand in over 15 years and very little rain, leaving the ground dry which can cause pipes to fracture more easily.

“We’ve increased resource in our field teams, so that we can catch more small leaks before they turn into bursts and fix the big bursts as soon as possible.”

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