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Regulators have warned South West Water that its failure to address pipe leaks is threatening customer water supplies. The company, which serves 1.8 million people in south-west England, has been ordered to present a formal action plan to resolve these issues within six weeks.
Persistent Failure to Meet Targets
In a joint letter, Ofwat, the Environment Agency, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated that the company has missed its targets for reducing leaks and repairing burst pipes for seven consecutive years. The regulators noted that leakage levels are currently 18.5% above forecasts and have risen compared to the previous year.
According to the regulators, South West Water loses 113.5 million litres of water daily—an amount equivalent to 45 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This figure is 5.7 million litres higher than the previous year. The letter emphasized that these shortcomings are unacceptable, particularly given the ongoing drought conditions, and pose a direct risk to the security of customer supplies.
Impact of Ongoing Drought
The warning arrives as approximately 82% of England remains in a state of drought, with severe conditions declared in parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, and Sussex. The Met Office has indicated that the country requires 120% of its typical rainfall over the next seven months to fully recover.
The situation is particularly critical for about 325,000 people and numerous businesses in Exeter and mid and east Devon, who face the potential for regular supply cut-offs. Such disruptions could lead to school closures and significant economic losses. While South West Water has urged households to reduce their consumption, the regulators pointed out that the company’s own failure to curb leakage undermines its credibility when asking customers to save water.
Reservoir levels remain a major concern following the driest period from April to September in over a century. Storage at the Wimbleball reservoir, which serves parts of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset, has dropped to 16%. Regulators expressed concern that the company’s inability to manage its network may necessitate emergency water abstraction from rivers, which could cause lasting environmental damage.
Public and Political Reaction
Julian Brazil, the leader of Devon county council, criticized the company for its long-term performance. He noted that while residents and businesses have been asked to conserve water, the company has been failing to address its own infrastructure issues for years. Brazil also highlighted concerns regarding the company’s history of pollution and dividend payments to shareholders.
In response to the criticism, Richard Stanbrook, South West Water’s drought programme director, stated that recent rainfall has provided some relief. He added that the company is actively repairing leaks and managing its network to strengthen supplies. Stanbrook noted, “As conditions improve, we will keep doing everything we can to protect supplies.”
The government has also announced the formation of eight new regional water councils to involve local leaders and businesses in setting priorities for water companies. South West Water is expected to submit its required action plan to the government and regulators by mid-December.
