Severn Trent will pay compensation to any customers who were without water for more than 15 hours as a result of the major pipe burst in Tewkesbury that happened early on Friday morning.

Over 10,000 homes and businesses were affected by the burst on a pipe which is nearly three feet in diameter, one of the biggest pipes in the water company’s network. Restoring supplies was very challenging  as the pipe is located in a field which is currently flooded.

Severn Trent moved water around its network in different ways and used a fleet of more than 20 tankers to inject water directly into pipes to help get the water back on as quickly as possible.

Severn Trent will be paying compensation to any customers who were without water for more than 15 hours. The payment of £30, which is roughly the same as having a month free on the average combined water and waste bill, will be deducted automatically so customers don’t need to do anything. Business customers will also be compensated with an automatic payment of £50 via their retailer who will be in touch in due course.

Several water bottle collection points were set up around the area manned by Severn Trent volunteers who distributed more than half a million litres of water. The company also hand-delivered water to vulnerable customers.

All customers in the affected area are now back on supply.