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Six water companies 'fail to hit leakage targets' | Six water companies 'fail to hit leakage targets' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
More than a quarter of all water companies in England and Wales failed to do enough to tackle leaks last year, the industry regulator Ofwat has said. | More than a quarter of all water companies in England and Wales failed to do enough to tackle leaks last year, the industry regulator Ofwat has said. |
Ofwat's annual report said while companies continued to deliver safe, reliable supplies, six out of 21 firms did not meet their leakage targets. | Ofwat's annual report said while companies continued to deliver safe, reliable supplies, six out of 21 firms did not meet their leakage targets. |
Worst was Yorkshire Water, which lost an average of 295 million litres a day. | Worst was Yorkshire Water, which lost an average of 295 million litres a day. |
Thames Water paid £60,000 compensation after finding 4,000 unread customer e-mails dating back seven years. | Thames Water paid £60,000 compensation after finding 4,000 unread customer e-mails dating back seven years. |
'Tough action' | 'Tough action' |
Last year, all companies met their annual leakage targets. This is the first time so many have failed to hit them. | Last year, all companies met their annual leakage targets. This is the first time so many have failed to hit them. |
But it is thought last year's harsh winter, which saw a surge in the number of burst pipes being reported, may have played a part. | But it is thought last year's harsh winter, which saw a surge in the number of burst pipes being reported, may have played a part. |
Yorkshire Water's leakage was equivalent to more than 120 Olympic swimming pools of water a day. | Yorkshire Water's leakage was equivalent to more than 120 Olympic swimming pools of water a day. |
Regina Finn, chief executive of Ofwat, said failing companies would be forced to improve. | Regina Finn, chief executive of Ofwat, said failing companies would be forced to improve. |
"These companies are on watch, they know that we'll take tough action. We have in the past - we've made companies invest their own money in fixing these leaks. We expect these companies to restore their service," she said. | "These companies are on watch, they know that we'll take tough action. We have in the past - we've made companies invest their own money in fixing these leaks. We expect these companies to restore their service," she said. |
The report for 2009-10 also showed complaints had fallen to their lowest levels for four years and drinking water quality was still among the best in Europe. | The report for 2009-10 also showed complaints had fallen to their lowest levels for four years and drinking water quality was still among the best in Europe. |
It found all companies achieved their targets to make sure supplies met the demand from customers. | It found all companies achieved their targets to make sure supplies met the demand from customers. |
Bounced back | Bounced back |
Thames Water said the unread messages were sent to an e-mail address starting "customerfeedback" rather than the correct "customer.feedback" address. | |
The company only noticed the error in March and has paid compensation to the customers it could identify. | The company only noticed the error in March and has paid compensation to the customers it could identify. |
A Thames Water spokesman said: "The messages should have bounced back when customers missed out the dot but they somehow ended up in an inbox we were not aware of. | A Thames Water spokesman said: "The messages should have bounced back when customers missed out the dot but they somehow ended up in an inbox we were not aware of. |
"We are sorry for the error but putting it into context we get 3,000 contacts from customers every day and this is over seven years." | "We are sorry for the error but putting it into context we get 3,000 contacts from customers every day and this is over seven years." |
The spokesman added that 1,200 customers had received £40 compensation each and 600 had been given £20. | The spokesman added that 1,200 customers had received £40 compensation each and 600 had been given £20. |