Water Companies
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with water companies about the steps they are taking to (a) fix leaks and (b) invest in improved infrastructure.
Answered by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government is taking action to reduce water wastage, tackle leakage and improve water infrastructure. We have set an interim target to reduce leakage by 30% by 2032 and expect Ofwat to challenge water companies to halve leakage by 2050. Through Price Review 2024, Ofwat requires companies to reduce leakage by 17% over 2025-30, supported by around £700 million for pressure management, fixing leaks and replacing mains. A further £1.7 billion has been allowed for 10.4 million smart meters, helping companies identify leaks through more timely and accurate data. Water companies must set out how they will secure future supplies in statutory Water Resources Management Plans, including through demand reduction and new water resources infrastructure such as reservoirs, transfers desalination and water recycling. The Water White Paper also commits Government to developing statutory resilience standards, so companies make forward-looking, long-term assessments of their systems.
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