Thames Water Lifts Hosepipe Ban

Thames Water has lifted its hosepipe ban.

Maybe next year they will have fixed all their leaks, so that a ban will not be necessary?

Hosepipe Ban Remains

Thames Water, the company with "obscene leakage rates",  has told the Telegraph that the hosepipe ban will remain despite the fact that this was wettest April since records began in 1910.

Richard Aylard, director of sustainability and external affairs for Thames Water, said they were aware of the "irony" that heavy rain had set in after the hosepipe ban was announced.

"We had more than double the rain we would expect for the last month.

In fact, it hasn't really stopped raining since we and six other companies imposed 'hosepipe bans' on April 5. 

We are alive to this irony, and our contribution to the endless talking point that is the British weather."

Thousands of homes face a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain lashed Britain overnight, and the rain looks set to continue.

Question For Thames Water

About this "drought" and hosepipe ban, really given that it's pissing down and will continue to do so for the coming week?

Thames Water's Obscene Leakage Rates

As hosepipe bans come into force (note, the water companies will not be enforcing these bans) it is worth noting that Thames Water, which serves 8.8 million customers, met its leakage targets over the past six years.

However, its leakage rates account for around 25% of the 2.6 billion litres it supplies a day to customers. In fact the leakage rate is five times higher than the 5% that will be saved by the hosepipe ban.

Thames Water leaks are enough to fill Wembley Stadium every 36 hours.

New Scientist’s environment consultant, Fred Pearce, said:

"Thames Water’s leakage rates are obscene.
Regulators and planning inspectors have been telling them for decades to get their act together – but the company’s efforts are sporadic and sometimes grudging."

Oh, and by the way, Thames Water increased its prices by 6.7% at the end of March.

Could it be possible that its "leakage targets" are not particularly challenging?