Leeds nostalgia: Drought hits city... then water main bursts

The year was 1990. Yorkshire farmers were facing tough conditions after one of the hottest periods in more than a century.
2nd October 1990.

The Derwent Reservoir which is just over a third full. For the past two years the water has been so low the ruins of the village can be seen.2nd October 1990.

The Derwent Reservoir which is just over a third full. For the past two years the water has been so low the ruins of the village can be seen.
2nd October 1990. The Derwent Reservoir which is just over a third full. For the past two years the water has been so low the ruins of the village can be seen.

River levels fell considerably and water from boreholes was running low.

This prompted Yorkshire Water to comment: “Last year, things were pretty desperate. This year, they are even worse.”

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Farmers had already lost tens of thousands of pounds, many having to ‘plough in’ ungerminated wheat and barley seeds into already sun-bleached fields. The National Rivers association banned 33 farmers from drawing water from the River Derwent - it’s flow had slumped eight million gallons in five days.

There were plans to bring in bans on water fountains and car washes. In England, it was officially the hottest day since 1875 and the driest spring for more than 30 years.

None of this was helped when a water main burst in Vicar Lane, sending gallons of the precious liquid down the drain.

Shops and businesses in the area had their water supplies cut off for several hours.

Yorkshire Water said it received a call about the burst main at 7.55am. By 8.12am its workers were on site and by 8.35am, the main had been shut off.