Since 2020 more than 200,000 road works have been required to deal with water leaks

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

• Water infrastructure failures have caused misery for motorists as they suffer from road works due to leaks

• Figures obtained by the Lib Dems show that since 2020, 208,407 road works have been required to deal with water leaks

• An average of 159 road works per day have been needed to deal with water leaks between January 2020 and August 2023

A Liberal Democrat Environment Information Regulation request (EIR) has found that since 2020 water leaks have caused the need for 208,407 road works.

There was an uptick in leaks causing road works between 2020 and 2022 with an increase of 5,619 from 60,609 in 2020 to 66,228 in 2022. That is a near 10% jump.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a complete overhaul of how the water companies are regulated by abolishing Ofwat and replacing it with a new regulator that has real teeth. This will ensure that the water companies work in the best interests of the public and fix the water infrastructure that is causing these damaging leaks. 

Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson, said:

“The water companies have caused misery right across the country. From pumping out raw sewage into our waterways to now causing traffic jams, they are a complete shambles. 

“Whilst they have been stuffing their pockets with dividends and bonuses people have suffered at their lack of investment in infrastructure. 

“It is time to get tough with the water companies, something the Conservatives have refused to do. That means creating a new regulator with teeth that can hold these firms to account. 

“These companies need to know that they can no longer take people for granted.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The water leaks and road repair can be found here. 

First reported by the Telegraph here. 

All the water companies provided the data in different formats. 

Anglian Water, Wessex Water, Northumbrian Water, Welsh Water and Yorkshire Water have provided data on the number of carriageway excavations. For South West Water this includes the footway as well. 

Thames Water have provided data from the contractor they use to repair the roads and do not have a separate breakdown for each year.

Scottish Water have provided information relating to all notifiable works carried out on carriageways, footways, cycleways, footpaths and verges to Scottish Water assets and estimate around 40-45% of these are due to leaks or bursts. 

When using Scottish Water’s data, 42.5% of the figure they provided has been used, in line with their estimations.

United Utilities and Severn Trent Water (who also own Welsh company Hafren Dyfrdwy) have said they do not hold the data.