News

With a network of water pipes that would stretch around the world, it’s no wonder Severn Trent Water customers often spot water leaks before we do. That’s why we're asking our customers to help tackle leaks and bursts in the cold weather.

Malcolm Whittaker has been finding and fixing leaks across the region for over 30 years.  He explained: “The weather has turned cold and we’ll see more ice and frost towards the weekend.  We take leakage very seriously, fixing on average 121 leaks per day and we want to bring leakage levels down as much as possible so that water isn’t wasted.  This is particularly important when it’s cold as leaks can turn to ice and become very dangerous to the public.  Engineers like me work day and night finding and fixing leaks and bursts, however we recognise that there may be some leaks that are still out there that we don’t know about.

“So we need our customers help. If you spot a leak while you are out and about, call our Leakline number on 0800 783 4444, the call is free on most landlines. Or report the leak using our on-line form here.  Although if you are visiting our website it’s worth having a look at our Check My Area Map section on the homepage which shows leaks that have already been reported to us.

“In many cases, we don’t know where leaks are until our customers report them. Please don’t assume we already know about the burst or leak, even if it is a large one: particularly in rural areas where it’s possible for leaks to run for days without being noticed.

“We maintain a 46,000km network of water pipes across a huge area, so customers will often spot a leak before we can and we’re always grateful for your help.”

Each leak or burst is repaired on a priority basis, with those affecting its customers’ water supply being fixed first.  Malcolm added: “Providing our customers with a continuous supply of water is a priority for us so we will always fix these leaks first and then focus on others. Only 1 in 10 leaks will actually affect customers’ water supply, so those that could become a hazard
are also prioritised.  So please give a good description of the leak when you report it so that we can get to the most urgent first.”