Greenpeace UK Criticizes Water Firms for 2.87 Billion Litre Daily Leakage

Environmental organization Greenpeace UK released an analysis showing that water companies in England and Wales lose 2.87 billion litres of water daily through leaky pipes. The organization noted that this waste is five times the 577 million litres a nationwide hosepipe ban would save, occurring as residents in south and south-east England face temporary use bans due to record heatwaves and declining reservoir levels.

Greenpeace UK argues that privatized water firms have prioritized shareholder dividends over essential infrastructure investment. In response, Water UK stated that companies have already cut leakage by approximately 40% since privatization and aim for an additional 17% reduction by 2030. The trade association added that demand has risen by more than a third in some areas during the current heatwave.

The analysis follows reports from the European Environment Agency regarding declining river flows and groundwater levels at nearly all sites. Additionally, warnings suggest a potential water-supply shortfall of over 5 billion litres a day by the mid-2050s.