30/06/11
In June, companies published leakage figures for last year. While most met the tough targets set for them by Ofwat, some did not. Missing leakage targets is something companies take extremely seriously.
This is an industry that plans not just for the next year, or the next decade, but for the next generation, and the renewal of pipes is a long-term process. When companies renew pipes, they have to be ever mindful of the cost to customers, and to consider what projects are acceptable economically as well as operationally. Since privatisation, leakage has fallen by 35% as a result of this constant investment in the national infrastructure.
However, extreme weather can destroy the most carefully laid plans when it comes to leakage. A combination of a long period of bitterly cold temperatures, a swift thaw, and homes and offices left unattended and unoccupied over the Christmas and New Year period resulted in a record number of bursts. Many of these bursts were in pipes maintained by customers rather than water companies.
Valuing water is at the heart of what water companies do. The industry continues to work very hard throughout the year to fix leaks.
