Water company enforcing hosepipe ban leaks 92m litres of water a day

Water company enforcing hosepipe ban from midnight leaks 92m litres of water a day – enough to fill 33 Wembley Stadiums every year

•  Boss David Hinton, who is paid £307,000 a year, is blaming working from home
•  An audit of companies’ leaks reveals that UK suppliers lose 3 billion litres a day

A water company enforcing a hosepipe ban from midnight tonight leaks enough water to fill Wembley Stadium 33 times a year – but is now blaming customers for shortages.

The strict restrictions being brought in by South East Water – with the threat of prosecution for breaking them – will hit 1.3 million homes in Kent and Sussex.

But while it has been revealed that the firm loses 92 million litres of water each day, chief executive David Hinton, who is paid £307,000 a year, is pointing the finger at more people working from home.

In a letter to customers explaining his reasons for the ban on using hosepipes and sprinklers, he said: ‘The rise of working from home has increased drinking water demand in commuter towns by around 20 per cent over a very short period, testing our infrastructure.’

An audit of companies’ leaks reveals that UK suppliers lose 3 billion litres a day because of holes in pipes. South East leaks 33.6 billion litres a year – it would take a billion to fill Wembley.

South East Water, who are enforcing a hosepipe ban from midnight tonight, leaks enough water to fill Wembley Stadium 33 times a year

David Hinton, who is paid £307,000 a year, blamed more people working from home for his hosepipe ban

South East’s leak rate per property is up to 21 per cent higher than neighbouring firms with similar population areas and pipe networks.

In April it increased bills by 11 per cent – almost double some other water companies’ rises. It charges an average £242 a year for water, with no sewage service – almost 30 per cent more than neighbouring Affinity Water’s £187 average bill.

A petition calling for new ownership at South East Water has now attracted 3,000 names.

Sarah Coles, consumer expert at financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: ‘Customers are very frustrated seeing water firms’ bills go up while there are big profits, leaks and sewage incidents. 

‘They’re asking why companies are not making more investment in controlling leaks.’

READ MORE: Fury over South East Water hosepipe ban: Schools forced to close and bottled water stations are set up after firm introduces earliest ban in 11 years as homes across Kent and Sussex battle water shortages

Thames Water, which reported £429 million profit and pays chief executive Sarah Bentley £1.5 million a year, has the highest UK leak rate, spilling 152 litres per property a day, according to data sent to the website Discover Water by the companies and industry watchdog Ofwat. 

Severn Trent, whose chief executive Liv Garfield is on £3.2 million a year, saw £167.9 million profits while leaking 120 litres per property a day.

Cat Hobbs of We Own It, which campaigns for water firms to be publicly owned, said: ‘Companies are more interested in extracting profits for their shareholders.’

Forecasters predict this summer’s temperature could top last year’s record 40C (104F). South East Water said: ‘The ban is to ensure we can supply everyone. We are committed to reducing leaks by 15 per cent between 2020 and ’25.’

Yorkshire Water’s saving tips include using a playlist of four-minute songs to cut shower times.

Thames, Welsh Water, United Utilities, Severn Trent and Anglian said fixing leaks is a priority.

Watchdog Ofwat said: ‘We are pushing water companies to do more on leaks.’

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