§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of households pay for water supplies based on the 1973 rateable value of the property, broken down by supplier area. [101692]
§ Mr. MorleyThe following is the information for households in England.
152W
Percentage of households charged for water supplies based on the rateable value of a property, 2002–03 (estimates by Ofwat based on provisional and forecast data provided by each company) Percentage Water and sewerage companies Anglian 49.5 Northumbrian: Northumbrian 92.1 Essex and Suffolk 68.9 Severn Trent 78.1 South West 62.8 Southern 76.0 Thames 80.9 United Utilities 86.5 Wessex 69.6 Yorkshire: Yorkshire 75.2 York 92.4
Percentage of households charged for water supplies based on the rateable value of a property, 2002–03 (estimates by Ofwat based on provisional and forecast data provided by each company) Percentage Water only companies Bournemouth and W. Hampshire 75.3 Bristol 79.1 Cambridge 47.9 Cholderton 89.1 Dee Valley 72.1 Folkestone and Dover 64.4 Mid Kent 71.0 Portsmouth 96.7 South East 72.2 South Staffordshire 86.8 Sutton and East Surrey 81.9 Tendring Hundred 46.3 Three Valleys: Three Valleys 80.7 North Surrey 81.2
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much water was estimated to be lost from water pipes broken down by(a) company supply pipes and (b) piping between the water company connection point and the householder's tap in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2002. [101681]
§ Mr. MorleyWater company leakage data is published annually by the Director General of Water Services in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The reported leakage figures for companies' pipes and customers' supply pipes for 1996–97 and 2001–02 (in litres/property/day) were as follows:
Company pipes Customer supply pipes 1997 2002 1997 2002 Water and sewerage companies Anglian 79.4 82.1 75.8 36.5 Dwr Cymru 216.4 162.0 67.8 24.8 Northumbrian North 120.3 99.8 53.2 42.2 Northumbrian South 72.6 57.1 43.0 39.5 Severn Trent 103.1 69.3 48.7 35.4 South West 141.7 90.8 45.9 24.9 Southern 79.6 68.8 36.8 23.1 Thames 231.6 186.4 88.9 63.7 United Utilities 174.8 117.0 43.5 28.6 Wessex 204.4 111.8 50.2 37.3 Yorkshire 164.0 109.5 49.9 31.9 Water only companies Bournemouth and W. Hants 110.4 83.9 46.8 36.3 Bristol 98.3 89.9 41.6 23.1 Cambridge 102.5 89.9 36.7 31.1 Dee Valley 75.2 61.3 41.2 36.8 Folkestone and Dover 115.0 83.2 49.6 33.7 Mid Kent 124.8 81.4 41.5 38.4 Portsmouth 59.1 74.0 49.0 29.3 South East 119.4 92.8 56.6 34.7 South Staffordshire 122.7 88.8 47.5 42.4 Sutton and East Surrey 60.8 54.9 42.8 36.1 Tendring Hundred 60.5 63.9 33.0 10.2 Three Valleys 117.1 82.5 55.8 46.4
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that leakage levels in piping between the water company connection point and the householder's tap are reduced. [101682]
153W
§ Mr. MorleyFollowing the Water Summit in 1997, Ofwat has set water companies annual leakage targets. This mechanism has achieved a significant reduction in leakage, both on the distribution network and customers' supply pipes. The Government also asked water companies to make a further commitment to reduce leakage in customers' supply pipes. As a result, all companies offer some degree of free or subsidised repair and replacement for domestic customers' supply pipes. This activity is undertaken as part of water companies' statutory duty to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. Ofwat has a responsibility to enforce this duty, and annually reviews water companies' policies and activities in this area.
Details regarding water company activity on water efficiency, the number of supply pipes replaced and repaired annually, and the supply pipe policies can be found in the Ofwat report 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water 2001–02', a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent studies(a) have been conducted and (b) are planned to establish the extent of leaking pipes in (i) the public water supply and (ii) domestic and business properties. [101683]
§ Mr. MorleySince the Water Summit in 1997, Ofwat has set water companies annual leakage reduction targets, which cover the distribution network and customers' supply pipes. Companies submit details each year on progress with their leakage control activities, including information on supply pipe leakage. Water company leakage data is published annually by the Director General of Water Services in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water' reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which water companies(a) have and (b) have not accepted responsibility for a free leak repair service for domestic supply pipes. [101685]
§ Mr. MorleyAll water companies offer some degree of free repair for domestic customers' supply pipes. The exact nature of the repair policy and any restrictions to that policy are dependent on the water company and its operating conditions, although many companies also offer free or subsidised supply pipe replacement. Further details of the supply pipe policy for each water company are provided in Appendix 5 of the Ofwat report 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water 2001–02', a copy of which is in the Library of the House.