Residents across Glasgow and South Lanarkshire are enduring a fourth day of water supply disruptions after a strategic water main burst on Pollokshaws Road, causing severe flooding and damage. The incident has led to thousands of properties experiencing water shortages, road closures, and further burst pipes due to fluctuating water pressure.
Scottish Water has been working around the clock to repair the damage and investigate additional pipe failures caused by the emergency response. However, ongoing challenges mean many communities continue to experience intermittent water supply issues and infrastructure damage.
Severe Water Main Burst Triggers Chain Reaction
The initial burst on Saturday afternoon resulted in extensive flooding and road closures in the G41, G42, G43, and G44 postcode areas, affecting locations from the River Clyde to Glasgow’s southern boundary. Engineers replaced the 27-inch (69cm) strategic water main, which was originally installed in 1901, but the repair work has triggered additional pipe bursts across the region.
On Sunday, another major pipe burst near the River Clyde on Florence Street led to a large road collapse between City of Glasgow College and Gorbals Leisure Centre. Water supply was cut to homes and businesses up to four miles away, impacting areas such as Kings Park, Possilpark, Rutherglen, and Cambuslang.
By Monday and Tuesday, further bursts occurred on St Andrews Drive, St Andrews Road, Maxwell Road, Stonelaw Road (Rutherglen), and Pollokshields, leaving an estimated 1,000 properties without water and thousands more with low pressure or discoloured water.
Scottish Water Responds to Crisis
Scottish Water confirmed that pressure changes and complex valve operations required to restore supply likely triggered smaller diameter pipes to rupture, a common risk following a major water main failure.
The publicly owned company assured residents that road closures and repair work would continue throughout the week to restore the damaged infrastructure.
A spokesperson stated:
“The vast size of the main meant the burst caused severe flooding, resulting in major road damage. A full reinstatement and clean-up is now underway.”
Bottled Water and Customer Support Provided
Scottish Water’s customer care team is assisting affected residents, providing bottled water supplies and guidance on managing water disruptions.
A statement on their website advised:
“Customers may experience fluctuating water pressure, temporary loss of supply, or discoloured water. If you notice discoloured water, run your cold kitchen tap at half pressure until it runs clear.”
As engineers continue to tackle the crisis, residents are urged to stay updated via Scottish Water’s official channels. The road closures, supply disruptions, and repair efforts are expected to persist through the week, with thousands still waiting for full restoration of service.
