Why are we seeing more water pipes bursting in Suffolk?

A spokesperson for Essex & Suffolk Water said the issue of pipes bursting was the same in the winter.

“When the weather warms up or gets very cold in winter, the ground hardens and shifts, causing the pipes to move,” they said.

“Fixtures, fittings and even the pipes themselves can move and crack, along with the ground, causing more leaks and bursts.

“We don’t always know for definite what the cause of a leak is, but there has been an increased number of bursts due to the recent hot temperatures.”

Cath Jones is head of household relationship management at the Consumer Council for Water, which helps customers with advice and support.

“Our changing climate is putting increasing pressure on water companies’ networks, and prolonged periods of hot weather can expose weaknesses in their infrastructure,” she said.

“It’s important companies do all they can to prevent bursts, and find and fix them quickly when they do occur.

“Companies have been entrusted with an unprecedented amount of customers’ money through record bill increases, and customers rightly expect to see that investment delivering more reliable services.”