Three water mains burst in Braintree today, Anglian Water has confirmed.
Homes have been flooded and water has been turned off temporarily at three locations.
The first pipe to burst was at Greenway Gardens, in Great Notley, followed by one at Malyon Close and Boleyns Avenue, in Braintree.
Collette Nicholls, a spokeswoman for Anglian Water, said 32 properties were off water at Greenway Gardens at lunchtime while the main was repaired.
She said at Malyon Close a 10ins main went and while no-one lost water as a result, homes were flooded.
Loss adjustors, who represent the water provider, had been sent to the flooded homes to assess the extent of the damage and work with people.
And at Boleyns Avenue ten properties would be off water for a short period while the main was repaired.
In response to whether today's bursts were unusual, she said: "It can happen.
"Water mains which are underground are very vulnerable. They do their jobs most of the time but a water main, if there's a problem and another two mains close to it, it can trigger off a problem somewhere else close by."
What caused today's bursts is being investigated by Anglian Water, she said.
