Wythenshawe Residents Face Two-Day Lownorth Road Flood, Manchester 2026

Key Points

• There was an issue with water flow along Lownorth Road in Wythenshawe, Manchester due to two leaks.
• Lownorth Road was allegedly filled with water that made walking across the road very hard and sometimes impossible.
• Some sources say that the water level was “kerb high.”
• The first problem started on Friday, September 18, 2026, according to both residents and United Utilities.
• United Utilities managed to fix the first leak but discovered that there was another one in the same place.
• The second problem was fixed on Sunday.
• After repairs were done, the road was covered with mud, silt, and puddles.
• Part of the road had been cordoned off and excavated.
• Residents complained about the disruption for pedestrians, children and drivers.
• United Utilities apologized for causing inconveniences.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 22, 2026 — South Manchester street Lownorth Road was left covered by fast-flowing water for more than two days after two leaks affected the road in the Woodhouse Park area, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Residents said the water initially began running down the road on Friday, September 18. They described the flooding as severe enough to make the street difficult to cross and, at one point, impassable for pedestrians.

The Manchester Evening News reported that residents told the publication the situation continued for more than 48 hours. Locals described the water as reaching kerb height on parts of the street, while photographs and observations from the newspaper’s visit showed mud, silt and residual standing water around the repair site.

United Utilities confirmed that its teams attended reports of a leak on Lownorth Road on Friday evening. The company said the first leak was repaired, but a secondary leak occurred in the same location on Saturday afternoon.

Why was the road affected for more than two days?

United Utilities said the initial repair was completed after its teams attended the site on Friday. However, the company said a second leak then developed in the same area on Saturday afternoon.

The secondary leak required additional repair work, according to the water company. United Utilities said that work was successfully completed on Sunday afternoon.

In a statement quoted by the Manchester Evening News, a United Utilities spokesperson said: “Our teams attended reports of a leak on Lownorth Road on Friday evening and completed a repair.”

The spokesperson added: “Unfortunately, a secondary leak occurred on Saturday afternoon, which required further work and was successfully repaired on Sunday afternoon.”

The company did not provide further details in the report about the exact cause of the second leak, the volume of water released or the infrastructure involved.

Although the leaks had been repaired by the time of the newspaper’s visit on Monday, a section of the road remained cordoned off. The area had been dug up as part of the repair work, and a pool of standing water was still visible inside the excavation.

What did residents say about the flooding?

Residents interviewed by the Manchester Evening News described the flooding as disruptive and potentially dangerous.

Roy Maddox, aged 79, said the water had flowed along both sides of the road. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Maddox said: “It was terrible. It was like a river. It was going down both sides of the road. You couldn’t get across the road; you had to stay on the pavement.”

Maddox also said children had been unable to play outside despite wanting to do so. He described residents as being confused about what was happening while the water continued to flow.

A neighbour who was not named by the Manchester Evening News said the water was “kerb high”. The resident said the flooding initially affected one side of the street before spreading across both sides.

The unnamed neighbour also said the incident was not unprecedented. According to the report, he said a similar event had occurred several years earlier in a nearby area.

Another resident described the incident as the worst flooding of its kind that they had experienced on the road. The resident said the water had started as a trickle but became progressively heavier until it covered almost the entire street.

The resident also expressed concern about vehicles parked or travelling in the area. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the resident said:

“It was really bad. It is the worst one I have seen and was a bit of an ordeal.”

The resident said their grandchildren wanted to play in the water but were told not to do so.

A further resident said the flooding caused inconvenience and created a safety risk for drivers, pedestrians and anyone using the road after dark. The report did not identify that resident by name.

What was the effect on pedestrians and drivers?

The reported depth and speed of the water made movement along the road difficult. Residents said pedestrians had to remain on the pavement because crossing the road was not possible while water was flowing across it.

The conditions also raised concerns about vehicle safety. One resident said they were worried about cars as the flow became faster and the water spread across more of the road.

The road was not described in the report as being formally closed for the entire period. However, residents’ accounts indicated that the water significantly restricted access. After the repair, part of the road remained cordoned off because of the excavation and continuing standing water.

The risk was particularly relevant after dark, when pools of water, uneven surfaces, mud and repair works could be harder for road users to see. A resident specifically referred to concerns for people using the area at night.

The report did not state whether any vehicles were damaged, whether anyone was injured or whether emergency services had attended the scene.

What did United Utilities say?

United Utilities apologised to customers for the disruption caused by the two leaks.

The company said its teams worked to complete the necessary repairs and thanked residents for their patience.

In the statement quoted by the Manchester Evening News, the company said: “We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused and thank them for their patience while our teams worked as quickly as possible to complete the necessary repairs.”

The statement confirmed the sequence of events: an initial leak was reported and repaired on Friday, a secondary leak occurred on Saturday, and additional work was completed on Sunday afternoon.

The company’s response addressed the repair timeline but did not include details about the condition of the road after the work, the process for removing standing water or the expected date for fully reopening the cordoned-off section.

What remained at the scene after repairs?

When the Manchester Evening News visited the road on Monday, the visible water flow had stopped, but evidence of the incident remained.

The surface was covered with mud and silt carried by the water. A section of the street had been excavated, apparently to enable repair work, and remained behind a cordon.

Standing water was still visible within the hole. The continued presence of water and the uneven road surface meant that residents and other road users still had to take care around the affected section.

The newspaper’s report did not say when the excavation would be filled in, when the road surface would be restored or whether further inspection was planned.

What questions remain about the incident?

The report establishes that two leaks affected the same location within a short period, but several details remain unclear.

The exact cause of the original leak was not provided. It was also not explained why the secondary leak occurred after the first repair or whether the two incidents involved the same section of pipe.

The account did not include an estimate of the amount of water released or the cost of the repair work. It also did not say whether the earlier incident mentioned by a resident involved the same water main, the same part of Lownorth Road or a separate local leak.

Further information may be needed to establish whether the road requires additional work beyond repairing the leaks. The condition of the excavated section, the removal of standing water and the restoration of the carriageway are separate stages from stopping the water supply.

Background: why do water leaks disrupt roads?

Water leaks can affect roads in several ways. Flowing water may cover the carriageway, carry mud and silt, reduce visibility of road markings and create slippery conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Repair work can also require sections of a road or pavement to be excavated. Even after a leak has been stopped, the area may remain cordoned off while the damaged pipe is inspected, the ground is made safe and the surface is restored.

In this case, United Utilities said Lownorth Road experienced an initial leak followed by a secondary leak in the same area. The company reported that the further repair was completed on Sunday afternoon, while the Manchester Evening News observed remaining mud, silt, standing water and a cordoned-off excavation during its visit on Monday.

The incident also highlighted residents’ concerns about access and safety. Accounts from people living on the road indicated that the water prevented them from crossing safely, stopped children from playing outside and created concerns for vehicles and people travelling after dark.

Prediction: how could this affect Wythenshawe residents?

For residents living near the affected section of Lownorth Road, the most immediate impact is likely to be continued caution around the cordoned-off area until the excavation and road surface have been fully restored.

Pedestrians may face a restricted route if part of the pavement or carriageway remains unavailable. Drivers may also need to slow down around mud, standing water and uneven surfaces, particularly during darkness or further rainfall.

The successful repair reported by United Utilities should reduce the risk of additional flooding from the two reported leaks. However, residents may continue to seek clarification about the secondary leak, the earlier similar incident mentioned by one neighbour and the timetable for completing the remaining road works.

The longer-term effect will depend on whether the damaged section requires further infrastructure work. If the road is restored promptly and no further leaks develop, disruption should gradually decline. If additional faults emerge, residents could face renewed access problems and further safety concerns in the same area.