Thames Water fixing ‘over 1,000 leaks weekly’ amid hosepipe ban

A spokesperson for the water company said it is fixing 20 per cent more leaks than normal, or the equivalent of one every 10 minutes.

The company has said the prolonged hot and dry weathers puts pressure on the water pipes, with dry ground putting strain on the pipes.

At the same time, the company has put the blame on customers as higher demand for water increased making bursts and leaks more likely.

The company also confirmed it has replaced 100km, out of 140,00km total, of water mains since April last year, their biggest upgrade in 150 years.

CEO Chris Weston defended the company’s pay levels, as his pay rose by 14% to £1.163 million in the year to March, while other directors received bonuses totalling £4.1 million. (Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)

Additionally, £500 million has been invested in finding and fixing leaks.

The company has just come under fire after CEO, Chris Weston, said on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast, stated that some of the firm’s targets were beyond what they could achieve.

He said: “We have to hit a certain level of leakage, but it is so far in excess of what we are capable of doing, I think anyone would be capable of doing, however much money you invested, that it is not going to be achievable.”

Last year, it was fined a record £122.7 million by regulator Ofwat, largely for breaching sewage spill rules.

The company, serving 16 million customers in London and parts of southern England, treats 4.3 billion litres of waste daily.

Mr Weston, however, warned of the potential burden on taxpayers if this were to happen.

Instead, he backed a rescue deal proposed by the firm’s lenders.

Meanwhile, Mr Weston defended the company’s pay levels, as his pay rose by 14 per cent to £1.163 million in the year to March, while other directors received bonuses totalling £4.1 million.