Thames Water Leaks

Last week, I wrote about the record-breaking drought putting unprecedented pressure on our farmers, waterways, and water supplies. 

July was the driest month in the Thames area since records began in 1891, over a fifth of rivers are classed as exceptionally low, farmers are reporting their earlier harvest in 20 years, and for more than two weeks, a hosepipe ban has been in place across West Berkshire. 

Since then, figures analysed by the House of Commons Library and the Liberal Democrats have made one thing much clearer: while residents across Newbury and West Berkshire are being asked to conserve water, Thames Water continue to waste it.

In 2024/2025, Thames Water lost 97.9 litres of water per customer per day through leaks. Across its network, that amounts to 570 million litres of treated drinking water disappearing every 24 hours. 

Shockingly, since Ofwat began tracking water leakage data in 1992, this is Thames Water’s “best” - or lowest - leakage figure to date. 

When households are cutting down on their use, this is not about asking residents to do their bit, they already are. It’s about water companies fulfilling their most basic responsibility: protecting the water supply we all depend on. 

As the climate crises evolves, heatwaves will only become more frequent and intense.  We must, and can, adapt to periods of more extreme weather while taking the urgent action to reduce the emissions driving these changes. So while we roll out a range of crucial policies to transition to a nature-and climate resilient economy, the Government must include measures to reduce leaks in the upcoming Special (Measures) Bill. With the equivalent of 227 Olympic sized swimming pools of water per day being lost, tackling leaks would go a long way to improving the resilience of the sector, and helping to mitigate future shortages. 

At the same time, as the company continues to teeter on the verge of collapse, the latest proposal from its creditor’s does not change the fundamental problem. After a number of constituents have asked me about my view on the proposal, my position remains unchanged: Thames Water needs to be placed into special administration and under a mutual model of ownership, while immediately replacing Ofwat with a powerful new regulator that will hold the company to account for its persistent failures. 

The latest leakage figures are another damning reminder that our water system needs to be rapidly rebuilt - one where investment in crumbling infrastructure is prioritised, customer bills are reinvested in stopping leaks, and sewage dumping in our waterways ends.