Residents of a Woodford Green tower block who have already had to put up with noise and dust during engineering works have now been left without water since yesterday.

Work to complete a multimillion-pound improvement of the heating system on the Orchard Estate, off Broadmead Road, led to problems with a mains water pipe to part of the estate’s Liston Way block.

That has meant homes have been without running water there since 5pm yesterday.

Denice Spratt, 63, who lives in the block, said she had been unable to flush her toilet and had been using her cat’s drinking water and water from a vase to do so.

She said: “I want to move out and stay in a hotel if I don’t have any water.”

She said she believed some 20 homes had been affected.

Bob Butterfield, 58, said his home was supplied with water from a tank, which still had reserves this morning.

But he said: “If it doesn’t get done quickly, I won’t be able to flush the toilet or have a wash, or make a cup of tea.”

The £10million works by Redbridge Council and Carillion Energy Services to install “eco-pod” boilers, double glazing and cladding have been taking place on the estate since last September.

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: “Engineers are currently on site dealing with the problem trying to identify the cause.”

She said four residents had complained to the council and officers were knocking on doors to see if other flats were affected.

The council says the scheme will improve energy efficiency and lower bills for residents.

But Ms Spratt said the block has been left in an “atrocious condition” during the works.

She said: “The dust and noise are terrible. Nothing is kept clean.”

Mr Butterfield said he was unable to listen to the radio or watch television during the day because of the noise caused by drilling.

The council spokesman said contractors are asked to restrict drilling to “certain hours and there are rules about clearing up after”.

A Thames Water spokesman said its engineers were installing a standpipe for residents.