Water Main Repairs Concluded in Black Country, Diversions Remain

A ruptured water pipe that caused disruption across Black Country neighbourhoods earlier this week has been repaired, though associated traffic diversions are set to continue. The damaged main in Bloxwich on Monday led to the closure of a primary school, the cancellation of a fireworks event, and left some residences without water. South Staffs Water reported that repairs to the pipe on Stafford Road were completed by Tuesday morning, and all customers should have their supplies restored. The service provider further indicated that a diversion route around Stafford Road, from the junction with Lichfield Road extending to Walsall Road, would stay in place for at least seven days. Firefighters were dispatched to the burst pipe incident in the early hours of Monday morning, and the water company subsequently warned that day that properties in Bloxwich, Norton Canes, Great Wyrley, and Cannock might experience intermittent water supply loss or low pressure. Walsall Council’s fireworks display, originally scheduled for Tuesday at Bloxwich’s King George V Playing Field, was called off due to flooding at the park’s main entrance. Landywood Primary School in Great Wyrley, which was forced to close on Monday due to the absence of running water, re-opened at 10:30 GMT on Tuesday. South Staffs Water advised customers who observed cloudy or discoloured water on Tuesday to run their taps for 20 minutes to help clear it. This incident marks the third of its kind for South Staffs Water in the Black Country in recent days, as the water company had also addressed burst pipes in Wednesbury and Tipton over the preceding weekend. Both of these previous pipe ruptures have since been repaired.