Bunnpris store in Vestnes sells out of water amid local pipeline leak

On a recent Sunday morning, a Bunnpris store in Vestnes experienced an unprecedented influx of customers, according to employee Michelle Gjerde. Within just 26 minutes, they sold out of all their large containers of water, leaving only smaller half-liter bottles available.

Gjerde described the scene when she arrived at work, noting that there was a crowd outside the store waiting to get in. Once inside, customers eagerly purchased all five-liter water containers, quickly depleting the store’s stock. The frenzy continued as shoppers then bought every available one-and-a-half-liter bottle, leaving only the smaller sizes left for sale.

Many of those waiting in line were clearly in need of coffee. Gjerde observed that customers were not only buying water for their drinks but also for cleaning purposes, and many opted for wet wipes as well, which she deemed a practical choice.

The apparent shortage of water in the store has been attributed to a significant leak in the local pipeline system. Vestnes Vassverk has yet to determine the extent of the leak or its precise location, as reported on Sunday. Odd Skjegstad from the utility company stated that it is challenging to estimate when water service will be restored until the source of the leak is identified. According to their website, the leak is located in the town center, and repair work is currently underway. Some customers may experience water outages throughout the day as they address the issue.