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What we're doing to minimise leaks

Water is a precious natural resource and we want to look after it. To reduce the amount of water lost from our network, we’re aiming to halve leakage by 2050. That’s why our teams are working seven days a week to find and fix leaks.

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What we're doing

Growing our leakage team

We’ve been increasing the size of our leakage team to help us respond to leaks quickly. We’re now proactively fixing around 500 leaks a week and making further repairs reported by customers.

Using technology to find leaks

Across our area, we're investing more than ever in new technology to help our find-and-fix teams repair leaks.

  • We’ve fitted 7,500 acoustic loggers to detect burst pipes and pinpoint leaks. We’re also currently trialling more technologically advanced acoustic loggers.
  • We’re speeding up the rollout of a new Advanced Pressure Management system on our network to reduce fatigue of the pipes which can cause bursts.

Replacing old pipework

Many of our water main pipes are metal and starting to show their age. We're aiming to replace them with plastic pipes to protect water supplies well into the future.

Thanks for telling us if you spot a leak

We really value customers reporting leaks to us. This means that our find-and-fix teams can get out and fix them quickly. We have a dedicated line so customers can report a leak.

Call our Leakline on freephone 0800 820 999 or 0330 303 0146 (calls charged at local rate) to report leaks in your area.

What can cause leaks?

Temperature changes (such as extreme cold and prolonged dry spells) can cause the ground to move. This puts strain on our underground water mains and can cause them to leak. Illegal standpipes, high commercial water use, and other industrial misuse can also lead to unexpected pressure surges in the water mains, which can lead to burst pipes.

If we need to repair a leak outside your property

If a leak is discovered outside your property, we'll work hard to identify the cause, make the necessary repairs, and get your supply back to normal as soon as possible. If we need to shut off the water to repair the leak, we'll let you know in advance.

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