Daily Echo - Watchdog warns Southern Water over leaks

Watchdog warns SW over leaks
HAMPSHIRE'S water supplier has been warned it could be fined if it doesn't do more to tackle burst pipes.
Southern Water was one of six companies that missed their target this year for reducing leakage.
Ninety five million litres of water are wasted through the company's pipes every day, which is enough to fill 38 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Regulator Ofwat says Southern Water could face penalties if their performance doesn't improve. Environmental campaigners say the company needs to do more to stop water being wasted.
John Spottiswoode, who ran as a Green Party parliamentary candidate for Southampton Itchen, said: "What concerns me more is that it's an indication of a lack of being careful with our water supply
"They want to introduce fluoride and it worries me that they may not be able to deal with chemical leakage from treatment
plants."
Southern Water missed its target for reducing leaks by 3.3 per cent, and the company says they had to deal with a record number of mains bursts during last year's harsh winter.
They're now increasing the number of staff dedicated to detecting leaks, replacing 50km of ageing water mains and launching a programme to install leak alarms on water meters in houses across the south east.