Yeovil Faces 'Dirty Friday' as Water Shortages Hit Black Friday

While the rest of the nation dives into Black Friday deals, Yeovil residents have been left high and dry—literally—as widespread water shortages grip the town. Dubbed "Dirty Friday" by frustrated locals, the outage has caused significant disruptions, including school closures and interrupted daily routines.

No Water, Big Problems

The water crisis, affecting numerous homes and businesses, began early Friday morning. Reports of dry taps and low water pressure quickly flooded social media, with many residents voicing concerns over the lack of communication and slow resolution.

Local schools, including , announced closures due to the inability to provide essential facilities such as drinking water and toilets. Some businesses in Yeovil town centre also had to shut their doors, turning what should have be a shopping frenzy for the nation, although in Yeovil Town Centre, that was in doubt due to the poor state of the town and it's rows of derelict empty shops.

Residents React

The situation has sparked anger and humor in equal measure. "So much for Black Friday—this is more like a 'brown Friday' when you can't even flush the toilet," quipped one resident on Twitter. Others expressed frustration over the timing of the outage.

One mother said, “It’s chaos. The kids are at home because the schools are shut, and we can’t even make a cup of tea. What’s going on?”

Water Supplier's Response

Wessex Water, the supplier for the region, confirmed the issue and attributed it to a burst main affecting supply to Yeovil and surrounding areas. In a statement, they said:

“We are aware of an issue affecting water supplies in Yeovil. Our teams are working hard to locate and repair the fault. We apologize for the inconvenience and are aiming to restore services as soon as possible.”

Tankers have not been deployed to provide emergency water supplies, with collection points not set up at key locations around the town. However, many residents criticized the company for being slow to act and failing to provide clear updates.

Economic Impact

Local businesses have also expressed frustration, especially those hoping for a boost from Black Friday sales. “This was supposed to be one of our busiest days of the year,” said a manager of a retail store in the town center. “Now we’re losing revenue because we can’t even offer customers basic facilities.”

Looking Ahead

With repairs ongoing, it remains unclear when normal water service will be restored. In the meantime, Yeovil residents are bracing for continued inconvenience, with many calling for better infrastructure investment to prevent future crises.

As Yeovil endures its "Dirty Friday," one thing is clear: the town’s patience is running as dry as its water supply.