LIVINGSTONE WATER THREATS WILL 'PEE OFF LONDONERS'

12.20.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Jun 2005

Commenting on the dire predictions by Ken Livingstone that London could see standpipes on the streets of the capital next summer unless people conserve water, Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, Mike Tuffrey, said: -

"The Mayor has demanded Londoners change their ways but has ignored the fact that the equivalent of almost 1,000 Olympic size swimming pools of water are lost through leaky pipes in London every day.

"It is staggering that the Mayor has only now decided to start making predictions about chronic water shortages that could be facing London when these problems have been known for months.

"While steps to reduce demand for water, such as compulsory water meters, are welcome the approach to solving this problem must be led by the water companies.

"Serious questions must be asked about why Thames Water has failed to tackle the rebuilding of our leaking and crumbling water system, and why it is only Londoners and not the water companies who are being told to make adjustments to their way of life."

Commenting on the Mayor calling for people not to flush the toilet after they have urinated, Mike Tuffrey continued:-

"Advising people to put bricks in their toilets to save water is one thing, but to tell people not to flush the toilet after spending a penny will just pee off Londoners."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Detail of water leakage rates for 2003/04 for each water company can be found below and are taken from Hansard 9th June 2005, Column 623W

One megalitre is approximately the amount of water it takes to fill an Olympic size swimming pool

Megalitres %age of water leaked

Thames 946 0.26

Severn Trent 512 0.14

United Utilities 479 0.13

Yorkshire 295 0.08

Dwr Cymru 231 0.06

Anglian 216 0.06

Northumbrian North 160 0.04

Three Valleys 152 0.04

Southern 92 0.03

South West 84 0.02

Wessex 75 0.02

South Staffordshire 71 0.02

Northumbrian South 70 0.02

South East 69 0.02

Bristol 53 0.01

Mid Kent 30 0.01

Portsmouth 30 0.01

Sutton and East Surrey 24 0.01

Bournemouth and W Hants 22 0.01

Cambridge 14 0.00

Dee Valley 10 0.00

Folkestone and Dover 8 0.00

Tendring Hundred 5 0.00

Total 3648 100