Water supplies are returning across Withernsea and South Holderness after two burst mains left homes across the area with low or no water for several hours.
Yorkshire Water has apologised for the disruption, which affected customers in Patrington, Preston, Withernsea, Bilton and surrounding villages, with the problems compounded by higher-than-usual demand during the warm weather.
The company said the repair and return to normal supply was “imminent” in a statement issued earlier this afternoon, and water has since begun returning to homes and businesses across the affected area.
However, Yorkshire Water has warned there may still be some areas experiencing low pressure or discoloured water while the network recharges.
Customers experiencing discoloured water are advised to run the tap for a couple of minutes, after which it should return to normal.
Bottled water deliveries were made to customers on the company’s priority services register, and a number of local care homes.
Yorkshire Water also said a bottled water station was being deployed at the overflow car park at Withernsea Leisure Centre, but as supplies returned this was believed to have been stood down.
The main repair operation has been centred on Main Street in Preston, close to All Saints’ Church, where a large excavation was made to reach one of the damaged mains.
Main Street remains closed to through traffic, with a signed diversion in place while work continues.
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: “A number of customers in Patrington, Preston, Withernsea, Bilton and surrounding villages are currently experiencing low or no water supply caused by two burst mains in the area and the higher-than-usual demand during the warm weather.
“Our operational teams are on site in Preston working as quickly as possible to repair the burst.”
Community efforts to provide water were also launched during the outage. Dunedin House in Patrington travelled into Hull to collect bottled water for people in the village, with supplies handed out free of charge at two bottles per person.
Shops across the affected area also began running low on bottled still water as residents sought alternative supplies.
Cllr Jon Dimberline urged people who had not already done so to consider signing up to Yorkshire Water’s priority services register.
Yorkshire Water added: “We appreciate that this is extremely frustrating and would like to apologise for the inconvenience this incident will have caused, particularly given the hot weather, and would like to thank our customers for their continued patience.”