‘Grossly negligent’ water corporations were accused of neglecting to fix leaks because it is cheaper to let billions of gallons of water drain away each day, a’slap in the face’ for millions suffering hosepipe restrictions this summer.
Experts lambasted suppliers and said only the present dry period in the UK prompted them to discover and fix pipes, while opponents demanded billionaire CEOs be refused bonuses until the situation improves.
Southern Water and South East Water have committed to increase leak detection and repairs in their drought strategies.
Every day, the UK wastes 2 billion gallons of water, or 20% of its total consumption. Yesterday, massive leaks inundated streets, homes, and businesses in north London and north Kent.
Thames Use, which supplies both regions, is pushing 15 million consumers to water less and take shorter showers.
Southern Water, which has a hosepipe ban for 1million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, promised to ‘increase work to find and fix leaks beyond our target’ when a drought is predicted.
South East Water, whose ban for 2.2million in Kent and Sussex starts on Friday, pledged ‘enhanced leakage detection’ in times of prolonged low rainfall.
Hosepipe restrictions might remain until October with no’meaningful rainfall’ anticipated as temperatures reach to 36C by the end of the week in several areas of England.
Alistair Chisholm of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management claimed water companies would skip repairing numerous pipes to boost revenues.
He told the Telegraph, ‘There was always economic leakage. It was a cost-benefit study to see whether the client should invest. It’s cheaper to treat water and let it leak than to dig up tonnes of pipelines.
Water providers shouldn’t wait for a catastrophe, said Lib Dem rural affairs spokesperson Tim Farron.
It’s irresponsible to wait for a drought to address leaks. Millions face hosepipe restrictions this month.
‘It’s obscene that water company bosses get bonuses when millions of people suffer from hosepipe prohibitions. Why do they get bonuses?
Ministers ignore water company crisis after scandal. Public disgusted. Someone must take action against these corporations.
Fixing leaks and eliminating sewage pouring into rivers should be the first steps.
Water CEOs should not get incentives until they solve mains leaks, opponents warned last night.
Burst pipes in London and Kent transformed roads into rivers yesterday, as hosepipe restrictions are threatened.
During one of the hottest summers on record, locals watched as water cascaded across streets in Islington, north London.
More than 70 firemen fought increasing flood levels and encouraged homeowners to evacuate.
The ‘tsunami’ of water fueled fury at water firms that pay their managers huge salaries and incentives despite overseeing crumbling infrastructure.
The Met Office predicts temperatures in the low to mid-30s across central and southern UK, although not as high as July’s record-breaking 40C.
The Met Office cautioned that rivers may not restore to healthy levels until October, prolonging hosepipe restrictions.
Temperatures will dip over the weekend, but’meaningful rain’ won’t come for a bit.
Liberal Democrats and The Rivers Trust urge the government to suspend CEO bonuses until leaky pipes are fixed.
In 2020/21, 3.1billion litres of drinking water will be lost via damaged pipelines and reservoirs, according to Ofwat.
Despite drought warnings, water providers only vow to cut leakage by 2050. England had its driest July since 1935, with 35% of its usual rainfall, while Wales received 53%.
Company analysis Executives at England’s water and sewage corporations received £48m in 2020 and 2021, including £27.6m in bonuses, perks, and incentives.
Southern Water awarded its executives £3.4million in bonuses despite pumping raw sewage into rivers and failing to mend leaky pipes.
Thames Water is in a fight over its inability to operate a £250m desalination plant meant to produce 100m l/d of water during droughts. Despite failing, executives were paid £5m.
The company, whose leader made $1.25 million last year, advised Londoners to take shorter showers over the weekend.
South East Water banned hosepipes for certain Kent and Sussex customers and paid its management about £646,000 in bonuses and perks over the previous two years.
Tim Farron, Lib Dem rural affairs spokesperson, said it’s ‘outrageous’ that water company executives get incentives while not fixing leaks. Why do they get bonuses?
Ministers ignore water company crisis after scandal. Public disgusted. Someone must take action against these corporations. Fixing leaks and eliminating sewage pouring into rivers should be the first steps.
The Rivers Trust’s Christine Colvin called a 50% leak reduction goal ‘ridiculously unambitious’
What is excellent water company performance?
‘They’re rewarded for financial achievement, not environmental,’
A 36in main broke in north London, damaging 50 homes and rescuing 4.
Yesterday morning, a 4-foot flood swept over Hornsey Road in Islington. Within minutes, the Tollington Arms flooded like a tsunami, a worker reported.
Feargal Sharkey, a singer-turned-water-campaigner, said of the leak: ‘That’s decades of underinvestment, greed, and mismanagement.’ Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk, residents complain about wasted water from a busted pipe.
Colin Jones remarked, ‘Morning, noon, and night it’s going down the drain and no one’s taking responsibility.
To conserve water, they want me to turn off the tap while brushing my teeth. It’s funny
Essex and Suffolk Water claimed the broken pipe belonged to Great Yarmouth Council and that they are working as a contractor to fix it. Sorry for the delay.
Leaks swamped roads between Warwick and Leek Wootton yesterday.
Water UK claimed the incentives reflected ‘consumer and environmental achievements,’ including leaks, adding, ‘We’re witnessing the lowest amount of leaks on record, with further sharp reductions projected each year this decade.’
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a heat health warning for southern and central England from Tuesday to Saturday.
An Atlantic weather system next week might cause a 10C temperature drop and more rain and thunderstorms. It won’t replace water supply.
Following the driest eight months from November to June since 1976 and the driest July on record for regions of southern and eastern England, two water firms have already declared hosepipe restrictions.
Southern Water has asked the Environment Agency for a six-month ‘drought permit’ to take additional water from the River Test, The Times reported.
The River Test’s daily flow was 2,500Ml in March but is presently 450Ml.
Southern Water said the flow might drop to 365Ml this month, the permitted maximum for water removal.
A spokeswoman added, ‘The permission will last six months or until flows reach 500Ml per day for 21 days.’
Outside the warmest locations, England, Wales, and south-east Scotland may expect high 20s and low 30s, the Met Office warned.
Scotland and Northern Ireland might exceed heatwave standards by Friday, forecasts warned.
With months of low rain leaving the countryside and urban parks and gardens tinder-dry, several places are urging residents not to set fires or have barbecues.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service warns against lighting barbecues, bonfires, fireworks, or sky lanterns after a chiminea ignited a major inferno that destroyed gardens, barns, and trees.
CLA, which represents 28,000 farmers and landowners in England and Wales, wants shops to prohibit disposable grills this summer to minimise wildfire danger in dry circumstances.
Met Office’s fire severity index (FSI) is extremely high for much of England and Wales and will reach ‘exceptional’ by the weekend across a slice of England.
Following the driest eight months from November to June since 1976 and the driest July on record for regions of southern and eastern England, two water firms have already declared hosepipe restrictions.
Climate change, caused by burning fossil fuels and other human activity, is increasing the chance of droughts, say scientists.
Climate change makes heatwaves more severe, frequent, and probable; this month’s record temperatures were ‘almost unthinkable’ without global warming.
The Met Office upped the temperature threshold for a declared heatwave in eight English counties to reflect the warming UK.
The warmest places are anticipated in central and southern England and Wales on Friday and Saturday, according to Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Tony Wardle.
Saturday might reach 35C or 36C.
‘Temperatures elsewhere will reach the mid 20s and low 30s Celsius later this week as high pressure builds across the UK.
Along with high daytime temperatures, mild evenings are forecast, with the mercury dropping to the low 20s Celsius in certain southern places.
Met Office predicts relatively short-lived showers in the North West.
Mr Wardles added, “Further south, which has experienced no rain for some time, dryness will persist through the week, providing little respite for parched areas, particularly in the South East.”
Richard Allan, a climate science professor at the University of Reading, said human-caused climate change worsens droughts.
A warmer atmosphere is thirstier and dries up the ground, while heatwaves worsen drought conditions. Ocean breezes can’t blow enough moisture over the land because continents are warming so quickly.
Uneven global warming may alter weather patterns and increase wet or dry spells.
Prof Allan claimed that human-caused climate change is exacerbating the global water cycle and changing weather patterns, leading to more severe droughts and floods.
Dr. Leslie Mabon, an environmental systems professor at The Open University, stated, ‘The drought danger in the UK is a reminder that we need to attack the issue at its source: lowering fossil fuel emissions to minimise disastrous climate change.’
‘Countries like the UK, which has a moderate climate and less experience with hot, dry periods, must prepare now to adapt to hotter weather.
This includes looking at our water infrastructure and deciding where to invest to be better prepared for hot periods.