Leakage

Companies are using new techniques to find and fix more leaks.

Water companies operate 426,734 km of water pipes - the equivalent to 10.6 times around the equator - taking fresh, clean water to homes and businesses across the UK. As pipes age, they become brittle, and forces from ground movement, tree roots, building work, utilities excavations, and extreme weather can make them leak, losing precious water on its route to customers.  

We use a range of cutting-edge techniques such as satellite imaging, drone surveys, acoustic sensors, in-pipe monitoring and smart metering to find and fix these leaks.

Leakage is now at the lowest level ever recorded, down 43% since the 1990s. In 2024-25 water companies in England and Wales repaired 45,383 burst pipes. Companies have reduced leakage by 9% over the 2020-2025 period. Targets are in place for significant further reductions every year through to 2050. 

When it comes to making repairs we balance the need to fix leaks, with the need to keep Britain’s roads moving. We work with the highways sector and local authorities to find ways of minimising the impact of roadworks, by planning where we work and avoiding dates around important local events.

Climate change is increasing the risk of leaks from: 

• More intense rainfall in winter, and less in the summer. This dries soil in the summer, making it move and crack, compressing water pipes. This is often followed by flash floods, which further moves soil around pipes once rain does arrive.  
• Less stable weather conditions, which include more frequent "freeze-thaw" events. These involve sudden temperature changes (for example, last year saw the temperature go from -12°C to 19°C in four days). This has effects inside and outside pipes, and can cause damage - including by freezing customer-owned pipes and plumbing.  

In addition to fixing leaks in pipes under the street, approximately 25% of total leaks occur in homes, where the customers are responsible for maintenance and repair. Companies are stepping up their offers of free or discounted services to find and fix leaks.