A large part of the East Flemish municipality Herzele could be without water until Friday evening due to a due to a leak in the water main that supplies the water tower at Sint-Lievens-Esse. The leak has mean that the water tower is not sufficiently filled. The leak should be repaired some time today and all being well supplies should be restored some time this evening.
Water started leaking from the main that brings water from Kester reservoir to Herzele Water Tower on Thursday afternoon. The leak was repaired, but during Thursday night the water main started leaking again. The leak has left the water tower without sufficient water to ensure supply.
Brigitte Van Damme of the water supply company Watergroep told VRT News that. "The water that was still in the tower has been consumed which means that its now empty”. The Alderman responsible for public works in Herzele Benjamin Rogiers (liberal) told VRT News that large parts of Herzele are currently without water.
Watergroep says that the leak will be repaired during the course of the day. Once this has been done the water tower can be filled again. However, “It may take until 8pm this evening before everyone’s water supply has returned to normal” .
Schools and nursing home
Alderman Rogiers told VRT News that at places where water is urgently needed, the municipal authorities and Watergroep are distributing bottles or bags of water "Water is being provided to schools where hot food is served and to one nursing home. This is mains water from Watergroep". Two other nursing homes have already had their mains water supply restored.