Burst water main throws Melbourne Airport into chaos

PASSENGERS at Melbourne Airport were thrown into chaos this morning, with a burst water main closing toilets and coffee shops.

MELBOURNE Airport is returning to normal after a chaotic morning with a burst water main.

Toilets were close to overflowing, and passengers have been denied their morning coffees.

Passenger Jane Elliott said the toilets were filling up because people kept using them despite there not being any water.

She said people started being turned away from them about 8am.

“I don’t know if everyone really knows yet,” she said.

“We only saw it on Facebook.”

Ms Elliott said she had not heard any announcements and guessed most people weren’t aware of the situation until trying to use the toilet.

Comedian Jane Kennedy tweeted that people were being offered wipes.

At 8:40am, Melbourne Airport said they were returning the water supply to the main terminal, but work is continuing.

Water supply is returning to the main terminal @Melair. Work continues on supply to remaining areas. We thank everyone for your patience.

— Melbourne Airport (@Melair) September 13, 2015

Traveller Kimberley Malcolm was boarding a plane to the Gold Coast this morning and said the airport was the busiest she had seen it in a while.

“It’s bizarre, there are no people in the cafes,” she said.

“There are signs up in the coffee shops that say there is no coffee or tea available.

“I might be in the Gold Coast before I get my morning coffee.”

Ms Malcolm said she found out about the burst water main from Twitter.

She also expected the lack of water would put a large dint in business’ profits today.

Earlier, Melbourne Airport communications manager Anna Gillett told news.com.au that workers were attempting to rectify the water supply in the main terminal.

“Anything that needs water does not have water,” she said.

Ms Gillett confirmed most toilets were closed but said some were still open for passengers.

“We are trying to conserve water where we can,” she said.

Melbourne Airport did not have any information on what caused the water main to burst.

“We are just focusing on rectifying the issue,” she said.

“We are working as quickly as we can but unfortunately we don’t have any times for when it is going to be fixed.”