§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of water was lost by leakage by Severn Trent Water in each of the last five years. [148974]
Mr. Robert AinsworthLeakage is divided between water lost from the company's distribution system and water lost from customers' own supply pipes. Total leakage within the Severn Trent area and for these two components is as follows:
Percentage Leakage from: Year Total leakage Company's distribution system Customers' supply pipes 1995–96 33.7 25.0 8.7 1996–97 25.5 17.3 8.2 1997–98 21.2 14.9 6.3 1998–99 18.3 12.2 6.1 1999–2000 18.1 12.0 6.1 The percentage figures are calculated using 1999–2000 figure for water put into supply as a constant, to ensure 648W that the figures are not distorted by other factors which would influence the percentage figure, such as increased demand from new customers.