WATER LIBERTY Customers asked to shower for only 4mins by a firm that loses 453 million litres per day

THE water company imposing a hosepipe ban is now warning customers to cut showers to four minutes – despite the firm wasting millions of gallons.

United Utilities leaks 453 million litres a day from its pipe network.

That is up to nine times as much as it expects to save by threatening customers with £1,000 fines for using hosepipes.

Last night bosses faced an angry backlash after issuing households with plastic pebbles with timers to help cut short their showers.

One female customer sent a web message to United saying: “Four minutes? For a man maybe” followed by a crying with laughter emoji.

Customer Ron Bell said: “Surely proper investment in stopping the leaks would be a better use of your customers’ money.”

Another, Keith Browning, added: “How much water do UU lose through leaks in four minutes?”

A fourth wrote: “Maybe if you put some of your massive profits back into the system we wouldn’t be in this position.”

United chief executive Steve Mogford, who was paid £2.3million last year, has faced fierce criticism after announcing the first hosepipe ban in England since 2012.

Customers and politicians said the North West company had been rewarding shareholders while failing to do enough to tackle leaks.

While millions of ordinary workers have endured pay freezes Mr Mogford has seen his pay rise by 49 per cent at United Utilities since 2013.

In that time he has pocketed £12million in salary, bonuses, pensions and benefits, says the GMB union.

In January Mr Mogford expanded his bank balance even further when he sold £1.7million of company shares.

Despite this he remains the largest non-institutional shareholder in United.

Mr Mogford, who lives in a £1.5million farmhouse near Chorley, Lancs, has been at the helm of the highly profitable water firm for seven years.

The 62-year-old boss owns a £2million super-yacht in Spain called Sea Samphire, which is moored in a marina on Menorca.

The 80ft craft has a bar, barbecue, dining room, jet ski and accommodation for crew.

He is also said to own a luxury holiday villa on Menorca.

His company introduces the hosepipe ban two weeks from today. Manchester Central Labour MP Lucy Powell said: “Constituents will be appalled to learn that, at a utility company which really should be a public asset, executives are paid so much they can afford to lead this kind of lifestyle.” Others have blasted United Utilities for imposing a hosepipe ban on its seven million customers while it wastes vast amounts of water from leaks.

Prosecution

Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, said: “United Utilities waste more than 175 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water every day. Plug all the leaks and you won’t need a hosepipe ban.”

Andy White of the Consumer Council for Water said: “Consumers’ motivation to save water is dampened if they feel their water company is not pulling its weight.”

Labour’s shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell said: “These water companies want it all ways. They inflict upon us, as a result of privatisation, an increase in charges. They make massive profits and they load themselves up with debt sometimes to pay for dividends. “That’s why the only solution to get the best service, to reduce charges and stop the rip-offs, is to bring these companies back into public ownership and let local people take control.” At least seven million households will be covered by the hosepipe restrictions, which come following the longest heatwave since 1976. Customers will not be allowed to use a hose to water their garden or plants. Cleaning cars, windows, and outdoor surfaces with hoses is also banned, under pain of prosecution.