Thames Water blasted as 635 million litres of water wasted per day

Thames Water has come under heavy criticism after the amount of water it loses in a single day was highlighted.

The water company has enforced a hosepipe ban today on 15 million customers due to droughts but it has been found to waste 365 million litres of water per day from leaks in pipes.

But GMB union has criticised the company saying a hosepipe that was constantly running since before the Queen was on the throne would not have used as much as Thames Water wastes in 24 hours.

The union claims the loss of water stems from Thames Water’s “creaking infrastructure”.

According to Ofwat, the water services regulation authority, Thames Water loses 635 million litres through leaks every single day, the most of any water company in the country.

It is enough to have a hosepipe on for 73 years, fill 245 Olympic sized swimming pools or fill eight million bath tubs.

Last year, Thames Water handed its directors more than £4million, with the highest paid director taking £1.5million – up 67 per cent from the year before. 

GMB is campaigning for water to be brought back into public hands. 

Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary, said: “From today, 15 million people across the South-east can no longer use their hosepipe. 

“Meanwhile every single day, Thames Water wastes enough water to have a hosepipe on for more than 70 years. 

“Instead of spending money to fix the leaky infrastructure, they’re showering directors with eye-watering sums. 

“It’s jaw-dropping incompetence and greed.  

“Privatising water has been a disastrous failed experiment, it’s time to bring this essential natural resource back into public hands.” 

A Thames Water spokesman said: “We know it’s not acceptable to be losing so much precious water and we’re doing something about it. It’s not going to be quick, but we’re making progress and we’ve met our target for the last three years to reduce leaks by 10 per cent. Our aim is to reduce our leakage by 20 per cent between 2020 and 2025.

“Since the extreme heatwave we have seen the number of leaks at least double compared to previously – partly due to ground movement and partly due to the higher pressures we pumped at to meet demand which hit a 27 year high in some places.”

Pictured top: A water main burst in 2020 flooding outside Southwark Tube station (Picture: London Fire Brigade)