United Utilities reported on 28 October 2026 that repairs to a burst water main on Rochdale Road in Oldham had been completed and that the main was being refilled. The company lists the incident, reference number 10285880, as active for the OL1, OL8 and OL9 postcodes, with the issue type given as no water, poor pressure or discoloured water1.
The update was published at 08:25PM on 28 October 2026. The company said refilling can take some time because the network must be refilled gradually to protect the pipework and help prevent further issues. Water tankers were to remain in the area to help maintain supplies while the work was completed, and the company said customers may notice pressure a little lower than usual, particularly during busy times of the day1.
Work was also continuing on Alfred Street, where the company said it was working with local residents to move parked vehicles so repairs could be carried out1.
On discoloured water, the company said this can happen when natural sediments in the pipes are disturbed, and pointed customers to its discoloured water advice. It also said customers on a meter may be eligible for a flushing allowance of £5 credit to their account to help cover the cost of water used during flushing, claimable through a form on its website1.
"Our team have completed repairs to the burst water main on Rochdale Road and are now in the process of refilling the water main."
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Areas affected | OL1, OL8 and OL9, Oldham |
| Issue type | No water, poor pressure or discoloured water |
| Status | Active |
| Reference number | 10285880 |
| Last updated | 28 October 2026 at 08:25PM |
| Repairs | Completed on Rochdale Road; main being refilled gradually |
| Other work | Alfred Street, with parked vehicles being moved |
| Support in area | Water tankers maintaining supplies |
| Metered customers | Flushing allowance of £5 credit, by claim form |
Why it matters for households
Households in the OL1, OL8 and OL9 postcodes of Oldham are affected. The incident remains active, so some properties may still have no water or poor pressure while the main is refilled, and the company says pressure may be lower than usual at busy times. Discoloured water can occur after sediments are disturbed, and the company directs customers to its discoloured water advice rather than treating it as a separate fault. Metered customers who flush their supply may be able to claim a £5 credit through the company's flushing allowance form1.
The company has not reported in this update when the incident will be closed or when supplies are expected to return fully to normal. Households can check the status of a supply problem using our guide on how to check if there is an outage in your area, and can report a problem or a burst pipe using our guide on how to report no water or a burst pipe. Our supply interruption checklist sets out what to have ready during an interruption, and our guide on bottled supplies, tankers and bowsers from your water company explains how tankers are used. For discoloured water, see brown or discoloured tap water: is it safe and how long to clear?. Our guide on how water companies respond to a major incident describes the stages of a response, and our guide on how your water company will contact you in an incident covers alerts. The water hub collects these guides.
What happens next
United Utilities says it will continue refilling the main gradually, keep tankers in the area to help maintain supplies, and continue work on Alfred Street once parked vehicles are moved. The company has not reported a date for closing the incident1.
Sources (1)
- OL1/OL8/OL9, Oldham, unitedutilities.com
Supply Interruption Checklist
Check for an Outage
Report No Water or Burst Pipe
Water Company Incident Response
