BIRMINGHAM, UK, Oct. 16, 2007 -- UK customers can be assured that their water supplies are secure, according to Ofwat's 'Security of Supply 2006-07' report published today.
The report looks at how well companies have managed to balance their supply of water against the demand by their customers in a way that ensures they meet their customers' needs for a safe, secure and continuous water supply now and in the future.
During the year covered by the report, water companies and their customers achieved water savings of 65 million liters (M/l) a day - equivalent to the consumption of nearly 440,000 people or a city almost the size of Bradford.
Voluntary water efficiency targets introduced by Ofwat will help the companies to continue to build on this success.
Ofwat Chief Executive, Regina Finn said: "The focus by customers and companies on using water wisely is very important when companies are calculating how much water their customers will need over time and planning to find the water resources to meet that need."
Across the whole industry, leakage fell for the third consecutive year and the amount of water lost through leakage is now one-third lower than its 1994 peak.
"This is another key piece in the jigsaw of ensuring water supplies are secure", said Regina Finn. "It is an area where companies can show their customers that they are managing the delivery of water efficiently."
Only Severn Trent failed to meet its leakage target and the company has given Ofwat a legally binding undertaking to fix this and meet future targets. Following similar action against Thames Water last year, the company complied with its commitments in 2006-07 and beat its leakage target by 20 Ml/d.
Overall, the report shows that many companies are on course to deliver the improvements that they promised to make sure they have sufficient supplies to meet their customers' needs. But there are some concerns that a few companies are not hitting targets the regulator expected them to meet in the 2005-10 price review period.
"We will monitor those companies closely", said Regina Finn. "And as we did with those missing leakage targets, we will take the action necessary to make sure they meet their customers' needs."
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Also see:
-- Increase in flood spending to 2011: 200m to be dedicated to problem areas, according to Defra
-- Investors must play a key role in building a greener future, Climate Change Minister says
-- Government Ministers meet the Association of British Insurers to discuss response to recent flood events
-- Water companies continue to invest for the future
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