Water firms in England and Wales waste 1tn litres in 2022

In 2022, water companies in England and Wales experienced significant losses due to leaks, amounting to over one trillion litres. Thames Water was identified as the largest contributor, leaking 570.4 megalitres daily, which accounted for nearly a quarter of its total water supply. Other companies, such as United Utilities and Severn Trent, also reported substantial leakages, raising concerns about the maintenance of water infrastructure. The Environment Agency has warned that the UK will require an additional five billion litres of water daily by 2050, with predictions that London could face severe water shortages within 25 years. Critics, including clean river campaigner Feargal Sharkey, have highlighted the need for water companies to prioritize leak management, arguing that current practices focus on short-term profits rather than long-term sustainability. Experts like David Hall emphasize that the failure to maintain and invest in water supply systems is detrimental to both the environment and consumers. The lack of adequate investment in infrastructure has led to a significant loss of fresh water, which could have been prevented. Despite the criticism, some water companies have announced plans for new investments to address these issues, including Southern Water's initiative to build a plant for recycling sewage into drinking water. Water UK claims that leakage levels are at a record low and has proposed a substantial investment to enhance water supply security and reduce leakage by a third by 2030.