HC Deb 28 March 1983 vol 40 cc72-3W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many water main bursts there are per year; and what is the approximate cost of repairing them.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Information is not collected centrally upon the number of water main bursts there are per year or upon the cost of their repair.

In evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, the water research centre said that the repair and maintenance of water mains (including the repair of bursts) in the United Kingdom cost approximately £90 million per annum.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many customer complaints there were about water mains in the last year; and what was the cost of dealing with them.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Consumers rarely complain about water mains; they do complain when they are dissatisfied with the water supply to their premises because of lower pressure, or insufficiency, or because the water is discoloured, or has an unpleasant taste or odour. The causes of discolouration, unpleasant taste or odour are numerous, the condition of mains being only one. It is not known how many consumer complaints arise because of the effects of mains on the water supply. The repair and maintenance of water mains in the United Kingdom is estimated to cost about £90 million per annum, but much of this work doubtless does not arise directly from any customer complaint.