WATER COMPANIES MUST BE WATERTIGHT!

5.12.13pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Jun 2006

Today (Wednesday) South East Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles heavily criticised Thames Water for failing to meet the overall target levels set by the regulator Ofwat for the third year in a row. The target was set at losing no more than 860 million litres per day, but Thames Water was off by 34 million litres a day.

Sharon Bowles said "Considering many of us in the South East are currently under drought orders, and are being endlessly told how and why we need to conserve water by water companies, this is an appalling effort by Thames Water who should be leading by example."

Although there has been a below average rainfall over winter, Ofwat clearly put some of the blame for the current hosepipe ban fully at the feet of the company.

"Although they cannot be blamed for the weather, while it continues to lose 894 million litres of water a day to leaks, Thames Water must accept some of the responsibility and take some real action," said Sharon Bowles.

"Putting this into perspective, if the entire adult population in England and Wales turned the tap off while brushing their teeth we could save 18 Mega litres of water per day! The water lost by Thames Water is over 4 times that!"

"While we must all play our part in using water carefully, the water companies must take the leading role."