Last updated 21:59, Wednesday, 27 August 2008

ABOUT 400 properties in Eskdale were without water last Friday morning after a water main was damaged by workmen.

Scottish Water said the burst main, which was in Bentpath, affected homes in DG13 and DG14 postcode areas.

A spokesman for the company said: “The burst main was in Bentpath. We were notified about it at 4am by our automated system. Roughly 400 properties were affected.

“The burst was fixed during Friday morning and the water supply came back on at 12.45pm. The system had to recharge so some properties may have taken longer to come back on than others.

“All properties affected should have been back on by late afternoon or early evening. The burst was caused by a contractor working near the water main.”

There were further problems over the weekend for customers in Canonbie, Langholm and surrounding areas.

On Monday Scottish Water’s regional manager for Dumfries and Galloway, Rob Mustard, said: “Supplies are now fully restored and the issues that led to the interruption have been resolved.

“Bottled water was supplied as an alternative for residents while our engineers were carrying out repairs. Scottish Water apologises to those affected for the interruptions to the water supply over the weekend.”

Scottish Water also carried out a short shutdown of supply to allow essential maintenance work in the old town of Langholm on Tuesday.

A £7m project is underway to provide Langholm with a supply from the Black Esk water treatment works, replacing the current supply from the Langholm works. This will reduce the need for boil notices at properties because of unacceptable levels of cryptosporidium in the springs that supply the Langholm works.

The project will see the installation of about 20km of new water mains. The work involves upgrading a section of the existing water main from the Eskdale service reservoir at Black Esk to the landward service reservoir at Langholm and laying a new branch main to the existing Langholm water tank.

About three-quarters of Langholm is supplied from the Black Esk water treatment works and the rest is supplied from the Langholm works.

Further information is available from Scottish Water’s helpline on 0845 601 8855.