A resident of Halstead, Essex, has accused Anglian Water of hypocrisy for enforcing a hosepipe ban while leaving a reported water leak in Braintree unrepaired for weeks. Linda Kirby, a receptionist at Polly's Field Village on Deanery Hill, says she flagged the leak in June, yet the water continues to trickle down Church Lane and pool into a puddle near Chantry Close.
Kirby said the situation left her feeling frustrated, particularly given restrictions currently placed on customers' own water use.
Why are we paying all of this money when there is water being wasted down a drain?
It started as a small trickle and over the weeks it has got bigger - they need to get their act together.
Why does this matter during a hosepipe ban?
The complaint lands at a sensitive moment for the utility company, which introduced restrictions on customer water use as drought conditions and record heat gripped the East of England. Anglian Water's ban was its first in a decade, brought in after low river levels and depleted reservoirs raised concerns about supply. A separate report also noted that Cambridge Water and Anglian Water both imposed temporary bans across the region, warning that breaches could carry fines of up to £1,000. Against that backdrop, an unrepaired leak visibly running to waste has struck some residents as contradictory.
What have other residents said?
People living near the leak on Church Lane have echoed Kirby's frustration. One woman, whom this publication has agreed not to name, said she had also reported the problem directly to the company.
The leak has been there for two to three months and no-one seems to be doing anything about it.
There's a hosepipe ban and we are wasting water and it's causing a huge puddle in the street that cars splash through.
How has Anglian Water responded?
The company said its engineers are working through unusually demanding conditions and are focusing first on repairs affecting the largest number of households. It explained that the extended dry spell can itself contribute to the problem.
Working hard to prioritise repairs that are having the greatest impact on customers' water supplies.
[The dry weather] can cause ground movement that results in an increase of burst water mains or leaks.
The firm also thanked customers for their patience while it manages the wider effects of the prolonged dry weather. It did not give a specific timeframe for fixing the Church Lane leak.
Is this part of a wider pattern?
Anglian Water is not alone in facing criticism over how it has handled restrictions. Elsewhere, South East Water's hosepipe ban in Kent angered around 850,000 households in areas including Ashford and Maidstone, compounded by recent bill rises. More recently, thousands of homes in Tonbridge were left without water or with low pressure after a burst pipe on Shipbourne Road, underscoring ongoing strain on regional infrastructure during the drought. Together, these incidents point to mounting public frustration with water companies asking customers to cut back while their own networks continue to leak or fail.
Key Facts
- Linda Kirby reported the Church Lane leak in June, near Chantry Close in Braintree, Essex.
- The leak originates on Deanery Hill and runs down into Church Lane.
- Anglian Water introduced its first hosepipe ban in a decade amid drought and record heat.
- The company says repairs are being prioritised based on impact to customers' water supplies.
- Nearby residents say the leak has persisted for two to three months without repair.
