Quick links
What is Ofwat's role in leakage?
We have a duty to make sure that companies continue to supply water to customers, so leakage levels are important to us. We produce an annual report on service and delivery and this contains statistics on total industry leakage, company estimates of total leakage, leakage targets and the components of leakage. We take action against companies that do not meet their leakage targets.
Since the mid 1990s drought the industry has made great progress in reducing leakage by about one-third, or 1,500 Ml/d (million litres per day). This reduction is equal to the daily needs of nearly ten million domestic customers - equivalent to the combined populations of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Leakage is now at cost-effective levels for all companies. We are monitoring these companies' progress against action plans for recovery. We expect companies in England and Wales to go on achieving further reductions in leakage by an additional 8% (315Ml/d) by 2010.
For further information please see: Service and delivery - performance of the water companies in England and Wales 2008-09 report.
