Leaks 'unfixed for months' during drought

Concerns have been raised that water leaks are not being fixed for months despite severe drought conditions being declared in parts of southern England.

The Soapbox Children's Theatre in Plymouth said there had been a stream-like leak outside its building in Devonport Park for 10 months before it was fixed.

South West Water said the leak had been identified as "a private leak, which meant permission was required before excavation work could begin".

The company said it had repaired more than 26,700 leaks in the last 12 months, with about 30% associated with customer-owned pipework. It said of the leaks fixed in the last year, more than 5,500 were on customer supply pipes.

Others have reported similar frustrations about water leaks via BBC Your Voice.

Iain Slade, co-director of Soapbox Theatre, said his team first reported the park leak to South West Water last December.

He said: "We measured 15 litres of water leaving the stream every minute.

"We worked that back to the beginning of the year and calculated it at 5.5 million litres of water, that's 22 million cups of tea that's just been wasted."

He added: "It's not just water, it's fresh drinking water."

South West Water said the problem had been identified as "a private leak, which meant permission was required before excavation work could begin".

It confirmed the leak had had now been repaired.

Simon Shaw, who lives in Heathfield near Bovey Tracey, Devon, said a footpath had turned to mud due to a water leak going unfixed for months.

Shaw said he reported the issue to South West Water in July after noticing water next to the path in Teigngrace Meadows Nature Reserve.

The 67-year-old said he returned to the site months later to find the leak had not been repaired and had completely flooded the footpath.

He said the water was coming out of a concrete structure next to the footpath which runs through a site run by Devon Wildlife Trust.

He said he also noticed water coming out of the ground a bit further down the path.

Shaw said: "Whoever's responsibility it is, this is a lot of water going to waste.

"I used to walk through in walking boots but now I'm having to wear Wellingtons.

"It's just appalling - save water we're being told."

Devon Wildlife Trust said it had asked South West Water to investigate a water leak at its Teigngrace Meadow nature reserve.

"We are pleased that the issue now seems to have been resolved," a spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for South West Water said: "Since [July], our teams attended the site on more than one occasion, as further investigation was needed to establish whether the leak was associated with drinking water or our wastewater network, which required both teams to investigate.

"The source of the leak was subsequently identified and the repair was completed last week."

The reported leaks come as severe drought was declared across parts of southern England , following months of low rainfall.

Parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex are affected.

South West Water said the number of leaks fixed in the last year equated to "around 76 leaks repaired every day".

A spokesperson said the firm had seen a "12.5% increase in the number of leaks detected" in the last 12 months, driven by "continued investment in leak detection technology and targeted campaigns to find and fix leaks as quickly as possible".

They added: "As around 30% of the leaks we identify are associated with customer-owned pipework, we're supporting customers through assisted repairs and campaigns.

"Our leak detection teams have doubled since 2020, as part of our plan to halve leakage by 2050, and we continue to invest in highly sensitive detection equipment."

South West Water said the fastest way to report a leak was by calling its contact centre on 0344 346 2020.

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