A "fountain of water" spotted on Sheppey is not another burst main, insisted Southern Water, as the island faces a third day of disruption to supplies.

Some homes and businesses remain without water today as the supply chaos – declared a major incident by Swale council – continues.

It tweeted: "We’re aware of a video being shared, showing what looks like a burst underneath Sheppey bridge. We’d like to reassure you this isn’t to do with our network and is not affecting #IsleofSheppey’s return to supply. The Fire Service’s hose has split, causing a fountain of water."

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "This can happen from time to time. It did not cause any significant hazard and the affected length was quickly replaced."

KFRS area manager David Escudier explained: “We have a high-volume pump hose running from the Sheppey Crossing onto the island to refill fire engines to ensure firefighting resilience and to provide water to livestock that would otherwise use public drinking water until fire hydrant supply on the island is fully available and sufficient."

The burst happened at the Kingsferry Bridge when the hose burst while filling a fire engine with water for livestock.

This morning, Southern Water said people would have seen supplies "returning to their taps" but many frustrated islanders were reporting no such luck.

Bottled water is still being dished out today, with pick-up points in Leysdown, Sheerness and Queenborough opened up again this morning.

Just before 8am, Southern Water tweeted: "Customers on the #IsleofSheppey should now be getting their water back.

"This will happen gradually during the morning depending on where you live.

"We’re so sorry again."

There has been criticism of Southern Water for how it has communicated with customers and there was more confusion this morning when the opening time for the bottled water station at Leysdown boot fair was changed at the last minute from 7.30am to 9am.

Yesterday, there was gridlock on the roads during the evening rush-hour after the Sheppey Crossing was closed so a 5km hose could be installed. It has been revealed today that the measure was taken to ensure fire engines had access to water in the event of a blaze.

The traffic disruption on the A249 brought much of Sittingbourne to a halt, with journeys that would usually be just a few minutes taking two hours-plus.

A fire engine, two support vehicles and the high-volume pump, capable of clearing 7,000 litres a minute, was brought in to transfer water from a fire hydrant at Kingsferry Bridge to Cowstead Corner.

The road was reopened just after 6pm yesterday but today the inside lane of the Sheppey-bound carriageway remains cordoned off.

Public buildings including schools, libraries, children's centres and the Sheppey Gateway council hub were shut by Kent County Council due to the water shortages.

Today, pupils attending the Oasis Academy, the Island's only secondary school, have been told to stay at home and classes will be delivered online.

And primary schools in Eastchurch, All Saints, and Leysdown, St Clement, are also shut today.

"We have checked the school sites this morning and unfortunately there is still no water at either," said a post on the Eastchurch, All Saints Facebook page.

"We anticipate that the situation will improve for everyone throughout the day and that school will be ready to reopen tomorrow."

Sheppey College in Sheerness, however, was among the venues to reopen this morning.

West Minster Primary School in Sheerness told parents: "We have water and good pressure therefore the school will be OPEN."

Richmond Academy, also in Sheerness, said: "We are open today! We look forward to seeing you!"

Yesterday evening, Swale Borough Council activated its emergency protocols after declaring the water shortages as a major incident.

This morning, islanders have reported mixed fortunes as far as supplies are concerned.

Robert Dawson posted at 9.20am: "No water in Wards hill area and no water station in Minster."

Another Minster resident said: "This morning in Minster we have water from the taps but it is still filling the tank upstairs and so the boiler still won't work so no hot water for showers.

"Other parts in Minster on higher ground are still without water."

The problem started on Tuesday following a fault in the main pipeline that carries the island's water from the mainland.

Southern Water announced it had restored supplies that evening but on Wednesday morning back-tracked and admitted it had found another leak.