Southampton residents have blasted Southern Water for failing to repair a leak that began last year - despite telling customers to obey a hosepipe ban starting today.
People living at Riverdene Place have spent nine months complaining about water bubbling up to the surface, flowing across a car park, and disappearing down a drain.
They say what started out as a trickle has turned into a flood - with an occasional water spout around a metre high.
Riverdene Place, which comprises more than 90 leasehold flats overlooking the River Itchen, is managed by Dell Wharf Residents Society Ltd.
The administrator, Jeff Etherington, said: "We're beyond disappointed - were angry. Southern Water has repeatedly promised to put this right but has failed to deliver.
"It's impossible to understand how a company that's asking customers to comply with a hosepipe ban can allow drinking water to pour into the road unchecked. We want them to honour their commitments, and stop wasting water."
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Residents say the leak began last October and has been accompanied by subsidence.
Martin Davenport, who tends the communal gardens, said: "I'm unable to use a hose and yet hundreds of litres of water are flowing down the drain. I'd describe Southern Water's performance as very poor - diabolical."
In a hard-hitting letter to the company, Mr Etherington said: "Not only has the promised reinstatement failed to take place, but the condition of the site has deteriorated significantly.
"The subsidence has increased, creating an even greater trip hazard for residents and visitors.
"This matter has now extended over many months, despite numerous assurances from Southern Water that it would be resolved."
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A Southern Water spokesman said: “We’re sorry this leak wasn’t attended to sooner. Our teams are investigating and we've been in touch with the customer to address their complaint.
"While leaks are prioritised based on how much water they are losing, we are deploying extra teams across Hampshire so we can tackle more.
"This is particularly important now as we ask customers to help us protect our water supplies. We understand that we need to do the same and our teams are working round the clock."
The spokesperson said the company had seen two record-breaking years in terms of leak reduction.
They added: "We continue to find better ways of detecting hidden leaks and deploy extra resources to repair what we find.”
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