A huge water leak has been going on for three weeks while water companies squabble over who is responsible.
Exasperated residents say the problem is getting worse all the time as four different utility companies each point the finger at one another.
The stream of water has been flowing along Puddledock Lane in Toy’s Hill, near Westerham, since June 20.
Neighbour Jady Chohan says he was made aware of it on June 28, at which point villagers contacted who they believed to be the supplier, Thames Water, but were told it was not the firm’s responsibility.
He said: “It’s coming across a field and the village is getting nowhere with it but it’s getting worse.”
The 59-year-old estimates that 40 litres of what appears to be drinking water is spilling out per minute.
Instead, the retiree called Sutton and East Surrey Water (SES) but was again told it was not the company’s problem.
Despite this, the firm told Jady it would be sending someone out to take a look at whose water it was.
When KentOnline contacted SES, it said the leak was coming from South East Water’s area.
But when South East Water was approached, it said the lane looked to be a Thames Water area, albeit close to the border with SES Water.
Similarly, Southern Water said it believed it was a SES Water area.
With this in mind, KentOnline went back to SES Water to explain that other companies were pointing the finger at it.
However, the firm confirmed that an inspector went out on July 8 to check the area and had found that the leak is on the Thames Water supply network and so any response would need to come from them, adding: “It is not a SES matter.”
But after a “thorough investigation” Thames Water said it had found no evidence of a leak on its clean water network in the area.
Despite this, it says investigations are ongoing and the company will be collecting samples from the site to determine the water’s source.
All the while, the water has continued to run without a fix, with Jady saying: “The leak is getting really bad now.
“Why is it taking so long for someone to come out. It’s literally flowing down the street – it has been a huge amount of water. It looks like drinking water.
“It’s really irritating that no one will do anything about it. Something of massive value and impact.”
He says it’s “real neglect” from the water company and bosses should be “ashamed of themselves”.
He also believes the water companies should be working together to share knowledge and inform one another of leaks in a bid to save water.
Just this week Thames Water said it was considering bringing in a hosepipe ban as supplies were running low in the hot weather.
It added that it will need to introduce usage restrictions “unless the situation changes significantly”.
‘I think it’s really sad letting water just go to waste. They say water is a problem but just let it run away’
Meanwhile, pictures from the site in Toy’s Hill show the lane soaked with large puddles forming down one side.
The 59-year-old said: “I think it’s really sad letting water just go to waste. They say water is a problem but just let it run away.
“I’d have thought each water company would look out for each other.”
SES Water confirms it had contacted Thames Water to notify the firm of the leak after its staff were called out, first on June 20.
The leak is not affecting the water supply to properties.
A Thames Water spokesperson said “We have carried out a thorough investigation into the suspected leak in Puddledock Lane and, so far, have found no evidence of a leak on our clean water network in the area.
“Our investigations are ongoing. We will be collecting samples from the site to help determine the source of the water. In addition, we are working closely with the neighbouring water provider, who also supplies parts of the area, to ensure a coordinated approach.”
The neighbouring water company is SES Water.
