Keeping water in the pipes

We have one of the best records in the British water industry for tackling the problem of leaking pipes.

Much of our water mains network is made from old cast iron pipes. Most of them have given decades of sterling service but compared with the modern steel and plastic pipes we now use they are much more prone to leaks and bursts. Cast iron is not very flexible so when the ground moves (it shrinks during dry spells and expands when frozen) it can cause the pipe to crack or dislocate the joints. Cast iron mains are made from individual lengths of pipe approximately three metres long, with a joint between each length.

Over the last decade we have invested huge amounts of time, effort and money to track down and mend leaks and to refurbish or replace worn out pipes. Hence our excellent record.

You may find that your external pipework has a leak. If you are charged for your water by meter, a leak could lead to an unexpectedly high bill. Even if you are not on a meter, a leaking pipe is a waste of a precious resource. So we now fix for free many leaks on customers' pipes, both for those with a meter and those without.

If you spot a leak in the street, don't just ignore it - REPORT IT.

Because our network of pipes is so vast, it is impossible to monitor every part of it all of the time. Although we have teams who work hard around the region looking for leaks, we also need your help to find problems. If you spot a leak, please call our leakline or contact us online.