A family of three feared their home would be flooded when water from a burst main turned their front and back gardens into a lake.
Water lapped within an inch of air-bricks, but began to soak away after Anglian Water cut off the supply in High Road, Whaplode.
The burst was discovered by Daphne Matson at 5.30am on Sunday when she got up to go to work at the Abbeygate Nursing Home, Moulton.
Emergency services attended, but Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue decided to allow the water to soak away.
The Matsons were among at least seven families who were without tap water supplies for eight hours as workmen repaired the main.
Mrs Matson’s son, Paul, said: “Luckily the house is slightly higher up than the garden. It was within an inch of coming through the air-bricks. It certainly looked like it was going to do some damage.”
And her husband, Neville, said: “I think the water authority got here just in time to prevent the water going into our house and garage.”
Neighbouring gardens were also flooded, but not so severely.
A greenhouse at the Matsons’ home was flooded, but there was nothing of value inside.