Ministers have called on water companies to accelerate their efforts to reduce leakages after analysis revealed that daily water losses far exceed the savings achieved through hosepipe bans. According to data compiled from the Environment Agency and industry sources, water firms in England lose approximately 2.6 billion litres of water each day due to leaks—an amount equivalent to around 1,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools and representing nearly 19% of the total water supplied.

Research from the water industry body UKWIR found that hosepipe bans, implemented during the 2022 drought, led to a 2.7 to 4.1 percent reduction in water use. If such bans were applied nationwide, they would save an estimated 377 million to 572 million litres daily—significantly less than the volume lost through leakage. Analysis suggests that water lost via leaks is between five and seven times greater than the water saved by hosepipe restrictions.

Nine water companies, mainly in southern England, have recently introduced hosepipe bans in an effort to conserve supplies amid ongoing drought concerns. Some companies argue that the impact of these bans is greater than UKWIR’s figures indicate. However, even the most optimistic water savings are overshadowed by persistent losses from aging infrastructure.

Thames Water, which supplies about 10.2 million customers, is estimated to lose around 569 million litres per day due to leaks—five to eight times the volume that hosepipe bans are expected to save. Anglian Water, serving much of the East of England, lost approximately 187 million litres daily to leakage during 2024–25, roughly four to six times the savings from its own restrictions.

Anglian Water contested the leakage figures, describing itself as one of the industry's best performers in managing leaks. The company stated that its hosepipe ban initially reduced demand by 9 percent, later stabilizing at around 5 percent. Even using the higher 9 percent savings estimate, the amount lost from leaks still nearly doubles the water conserved through restrictions.

The findings have intensified calls from campaigners and political figures like Andy Burnham for greater public control over water utilities and increased investment in infrastructure improvement. Burnham emphasized the need for companies to prioritize long-term service enhancements rather than shareholder returns.

As drought conditions persist and demand pressures rise, the challenge of modernizing England’s water network and reducing substantial leaks remains a critical issue for policymakers and water companies alike.