Don’t overf ill paddling pools ... say f irms that spill 654m litres
THREE killjoy water firms responsible for wasting 7,500 litres of water every second have ordered families to conserve supplies – by not overfilling their paddling pools.
As the record-breaking spell of hot weather continues, Bristol Water, Northumbrian Water and Severn Trent Water last week issued pleas to customers to save water.
Bristol Water asked people not to use paddling pools at all and requested for them not to plant ‘demanding flowers’ that require regular watering.
As well as urging people to avoid washing their cars, Northumbrian Water pressed families not to spill water from paddling pools. And Severn Trent suggested lowering the levels of water in paddling pools to reduce the risk of waste.
The three firms contribute 654million litres to the extraordinary 3.1billion litres of water estimated to be lost every day by water companies, according to the industry organisation Water UK. By contrast, a 7ft by 4ft paddling pool filled to a depth of 40cms has a capacity of 400 litres.
The three water firms between them reported annual profits of more than £530million last year and their chief executives enjoyed total pay of more than £5million. Water UK, which represents the major providers, has estimated that the average water bill in England and Wales will increase from £412 to £419 during the 2022-23 financial year.
Critics last night ridiculed the requests which, they pointed out, would save a minuscule proportion of the water lost by companies through leaks from Britain’s 215,000 miles of pipes. Cat Hobbs, the founder of We Own It, which campaigns for water firms to be publicly owned, said: ‘Water firms’ hypocrisy is unbelievable. They say every drop is precious but are leaking thousands of Olympic swimming pools’ worth of water.
‘It’s patronising to tell customers to be careful not to spill water. They are treating us like idiots. The pay of these water bosses is enormous. Water firms are prioritising paying shareholders rather than investing in infrastructure and fixing leaks.’
Severn Trent, which is one of the country’s biggest water firms, supplying eight million people in the Midlands, issued its request on its website. While conceding that ‘it’s fun to fill the paddling pool’, its message added: ‘Don’t fill your paddling pool to the top. You could save 30 litres of water for every inch lower the water level gets.’
The firm’s boss is Liv Garfield, 47, whose pay package is £3.9million, up £830,000 on the previous year. Her company leaks 415million litres of water every day – enough to fill more than one million paddling pools. Married mother-of-two Ms Garfield, who became the youngest ever female CEO of a FTSE 100 firm when she was appointed in 2014, has been reported to have a £5.5million home in London.
A spokesman said the firm was offering customers ‘practical tips’ and was committed to reducing leaks.
In an email to its customers, Northumbrian Water, which supplies around 4.5million customers in North East England, Essex and Suffolk, said: ‘If the paddling pool is out, don’t fill it to the top and let it spill over. Avoid using a hosepipe to wash the car – either leave it, or use a bucket.’
Asked at her £1.25million Grade IIlisted home near York about how she reconciled the email with the 210million
litres of water lost each day by her firm, its chief executive Heidi Mottram, 57, said: ‘I’m on holiday at the moment.’
Ms Mottram, who earns around £900,000 a year, advised The Mail on Sunday to contact the company’s press office, which we had already done without response. Eventually, a spokesperson said: ‘We have invested significantly to help us to reduce leaks.’
On its website Bristol Water – which leaks 38 million litres daily – said: ‘Try not to use paddling pools. If you do, try filling it up halfway – just as you would a bath, and reuse the water to wash your car or water your plants.’
It also suggested planting droughtresistant varieties ‘like lavender, hardy geraniums and bearded irises’.
Bristol Water, which is one of Britain’s smallest firms, is run by Mel Karam, who earns around £230,000 a year. The firm did not respond to a request to comment.