United Utilities have cordoned off the leak and engineers are poised to repair it
20:19, 16 Aug 2026Updated 20:23, 16 Aug 2026
Bubbling water leak spotted on Mauldeth Roa West in south Manchester
Residents in a south Manchester suburb did a double take when they spotted a burst water main appeared to have created a ‘bubbling mountain spring’.
Engineers have cordoned off the burst water main on Birchington Road, just off Mauldeth Road West, in Withington on Sunday afternoon.
United Utilities said repairs were being planned and begin ‘soon’ after the incident was reported. Water pressure on homes at the area are likely to be affected.
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However, one on-looker described the leak, saying it seemed as though Withington, about 30 metres above sea level, appeared to have suddenly acquired its own bubbling mountain spring.
Bubbling water leak spotted on Mauldeth Roa West in south Manchester
He said: I was quite shocked, water was coming out really fast and it was quite loud too, even with the traffic on the road. There were safety barriers up but the water was coming out at such a rate it was already starting to flood the path around it too. God knows how much water was coming out but it seemed a lot.”
In an update about the leak on its website, United Utilities said: “Our team have been out and identified a leak on the water main. We’re in the process of planning the works and will have a team of engineers on site as soon as possible.
(Image: andrew stuart)
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience and will be out to get this repaired soon.”