January cold snap causes pipe leaks
by Ben
Winter was a bitterly cold season in London, with temperatures falling as far as -3 degrees celsius. This extremely low temperature has hit the 200-year-old Thames Water system hard, with many leaks around the Greater London area.
Thames Water said they fixed more than 1,000 leaks a week on their 20,000 mile long network of pipes.
“When the temperature of the water going through our network drops due to freezing conditions, it makes the old cast-iron pipes contract,” a spokesperson said.
“This pulls them away from their couplings with other pipes, resulting in millions of tiny gaps emerging through which water can escape. In some cases, this flexing of the pipework leads to breaks along hairline weaknesses.”
Thames Water said they fixed more than 1,000 leaks a week on their 20,000 mile long network of pipes.
“When the temperature of the water going through our network drops due to freezing conditions, it makes the old cast-iron pipes contract,” a spokesperson said.
“This pulls them away from their couplings with other pipes, resulting in millions of tiny gaps emerging through which water can escape. In some cases, this flexing of the pipework leads to breaks along hairline weaknesses.”
There are not are only Victorian pipes below London. There are also gas and electricity wires and most interesting of all, rivers.
Most people have heard of the famous Fleet Street in London, but not many people know that it has a river flowing under it. The Fleet River is the largest of London’s subterranean rivers. It runs from Hampstead to exit the ground under Blackfriars Bridge.
More locally, the underground River Effra flows near Croydon. It is famous from a story which passed into the area’s folklore, which says that in Victorian times, a coffin was found in the Thames. The coffin was traced back to West Norwood Cemetery where it was discovered that the bottom of the grave had fallen through with the coffin into the Effra flowing beneath the cemetery. It was then apparently carried it to the Thames where it was found.
You can report any problem with water leaks on the Thames Water website or call the helpline on 0800 316 9800.
Most people have heard of the famous Fleet Street in London, but not many people know that it has a river flowing under it. The Fleet River is the largest of London’s subterranean rivers. It runs from Hampstead to exit the ground under Blackfriars Bridge.
More locally, the underground River Effra flows near Croydon. It is famous from a story which passed into the area’s folklore, which says that in Victorian times, a coffin was found in the Thames. The coffin was traced back to West Norwood Cemetery where it was discovered that the bottom of the grave had fallen through with the coffin into the Effra flowing beneath the cemetery. It was then apparently carried it to the Thames where it was found.
You can report any problem with water leaks on the Thames Water website or call the helpline on 0800 316 9800.