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Grid infrastructureUnited KingdomEIR-1032

Flooding reaches electrical substation in Colchester

Aug 2017Published 17 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

Near-missNear-missProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hidden
Where
electrical substation, Haven Road, Colchester
What
flooding reached substation on 9 August 2017
Response
fire crews worked through the night with highways staff and network company
Cause
heavy rain and high tides caused lake to burst banks

What happened

Heavy rainfall on 9 August 2017 caused a lake to burst its banks in Colchester. Flooding affected Haven Road and homes in Distillery Lane. Water had reached an electrical substation by 10.30 pm, and a nearby block of flats was evacuated. Fire crews pumped water to a nearby quay, used aqua vacs to clear flooded homes, and worked through the night with highways staff and the network company to make the scene safe. The source does not say whether the substation was damaged or whether supply was lost.

Contributing factors

Heavy rain and high tides were reported, and a nearby pond or lake overflowed. Haven Road was said to flood often when the River Colne is at high tide.

Lessons learned

  1. Substations in low lying tidal zones need monitoring for combined rain and tide events that can cause lakes to overflow.
  2. Operators should pre plan safe access routes and evacuation zones around grid sites when flood warnings are issued.

More lessons on detection and monitoring, weather and external hazards, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Was the substation damaged
  • Was supply lost
  • Cost of response and repairs

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

eadt.co.uk

Other entries that name Colchester

Published 2026-09-17. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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