Four major UK water companies currently enforcing hosepipe bans are leaking more than one billion litres of water every day, according to newly released data.
Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Southern Water, and South East Water are facing mounting criticism for imposing restrictions on households while simultaneously losing vast quantities of water through leaky infrastructure.
Company performance reports from 2024/25 reveal that 1.031 billion litres are lost each day—equivalent to around 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The Liberal Democrats have labelled the situation a scandal, particularly in light of large salary increases for water company executives. Southern Water’s CEO, for instance, received a 35% pay rise this year, pushing total remuneration to £975,000.
Among all water firms, Thames Water recorded the highest daily leakage at 569.1 million litres. Although this marks a slight improvement from the previous year, it still places the London-based provider at the top of the list. Yorkshire Water follows with 260.2 million litres, South East Water with 104.8 million litres, and Southern Water with 97.7 million litres daily.
Recent findings have also revealed that no fines have been issued to households violating hosepipe bans over the past five years, raising concerns about how seriously enforcement is being taken.
According to Ofwat, around 20% of water in the UK network is lost through leakage, although this figure has fallen by 41% since the privatisation of the sector in 1989. Leakage refers to water that enters the system but does not reach homes or businesses, often due to aging pipes or poor pressure management.
In response to public concerns, Thames Water reported a 13.2% drop in leakage since 2020, but acknowledged that more work remains. Southern Water noted a 20% reduction last year and aims for further cuts, targeting a saving of 17 million litres daily, enough to supply 35,000 customers.
Yorkshire Water said that leakage levels in its network are at a record low and that reducing waste remains a top priority. Water UK, the industry body, stated that firms are doing all they can to prevent further restrictions and have achieved record low leakage levels across the board, with plans for a further 17% reduction by 2030.
Following one of the driest springs on record, combined with ongoing heatwaves, the industry is urging the public to use water wisely and make efforts to conserve wherever possible.
