United Utilities said it needed to turn off the water supply in the Morecambe area for 24 hours, starting within an hour of its update at 4:30pm on Monday 19 December 2023, so that reservoirs serving homes and businesses could refill1. The company said the freeze and the thaw that followed had affected supply in the area1.
In its update, the company said customers had been experiencing no water or poor pressure "as a result of increased demand for water and multiple bursts and leaks at customer properties and on the water network"1. It said the shutdown was needed to allow the water system to refill and meet demand for the area1.
"It is not an action taken lightly but is essential to ensure we can reintroduce normal services for everyone in the Morecambe and Lancaster areas as soon as is possible."
The company set up bottled water stations at three sites, with these opening hours as stated on Monday 19 December1:
| Station | Address | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| Matthias Street Car Park | Matthias Street, Morecambe, LA5 5JR | Open until 9pm Monday; 8am to 8pm Tuesday |
| Salt Ayre Leisure Centre | Doris Henderson Way, Morecambe, LA1 5JS | Open until 9pm Monday; 8am to 8pm Tuesday |
| Morecambe FC "The Mazuma Stadium" | Christie Way, Westgate, Morecambe, LA4 4TB | 5:30pm to 9pm Monday; 8am to 8pm Tuesday |
United Utilities said it was supporting priority customers in the area and that households needing extra support could register for its Priority Services1. The company said it would keep customers updated over the next 24 hours1. No estimate of how many properties were affected, and no cause beyond the freeze, thaw, demand and bursts described, has been reported1.
Why it matters for households
Households in Morecambe and the surrounding Lancaster area lost supply from Monday afternoon for a planned 24 hours, with the company warning that the shutdown would begin within an hour of its 4:30pm update1. That means normal supply may not return until around Tuesday afternoon, and the company has not given a more precise restoration time beyond the 24-hour period1. Bottled water was available at the three stations listed above, with Tuesday hours of 8am to 8pm at all three1. Households registered for Priority Services were being supported during the incident, and the company invited others who would benefit from extra support to register1.
Households can check whether a supply problem is already known in their area using the guide on how to check if there is an outage in your area, and can report a loss of supply or a burst pipe using the guide on how to report no water or a burst pipe. The guide on how long until my supply is restored explains the factors that affect restoration times, and the supply interruption checklist sets out what households may want ready before and during a shutdown. More general guidance is in the water hub.
What happens next
United Utilities said it would keep customers updated through the 24-hour period1. The bottled water stations were due to reopen at 8am on Tuesday 20 December and close at 8pm that day1. No further update on restoration or on the number of properties affected has been reported1.
Sources (1)
- Update on water supply issues in Morecambe, unitedutilities.com
Supply Interruption Checklist
When Supply Is Restored
Check for an Outage
Report No Water or Burst Pipe
