e-Digest Statistics about: Inland Water Quality and Use
Water supply and use
Almost all (over 99 per cent) of the population of England and Wales is served by the public water supply, of which, 67 per cent comes from surface water sources and 33 per cent comes from groundwater sources. Table 24 shows the water put into the public water supply (metered and unmetered) by each of the water service companies, and by each of the water supply companies. Data have been provided by the Water Services Regulation Authority (publicly known as Ofwat). Table 25 shows the water put into the public water supply in the United Kingdom. Figures for individual companies in Table 24 may differ from those published by Ofwat as the table includes non-potable supplies within the metered figures. Data for Scotland have been provided by Scottish Water based on the annual return to the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS - formerly Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland). These data are reported on a financial year basis but may differ from data published by WICS because they include non-potable supplies.
Water companies in England and Wales manage distribution networks that total more than 335,000km. . In addition, there are almost 24 million connections to properties and associated customer supply pipes, which all have the capacity to leak. The companies aim to operate at the Economic Level of Leakage (ELL), which is the point at which the cost of reducing leakage is the same as the 'value' of the water saved. ELLs are not fixed because of improving technology in locating leaks and the fact that the 'value' of water depends on factors such as reservoir stocks. Water companies are currently set targets by Ofwat [14]. Table 26 shows the amount of leakage due to distribution and supply pipe losses between 1992/3 and 2005/6. 'Distribution losses' includes all losses of drinkable water between the treatment works and the highway boundary. 'Supply pipe losses' is leakage from customers' pipes between the highway boundary and the customer's stop tap.
Table 27 shows the number of new drought orders issued each year since 1976. Since these orders can only be granted if there is an actual or threatened serious deficiency of water supplies caused by an exceptional shortage of rain, the variations in the numbers correspond with the notable drought years within that period, culminating with the drought which began in the autumn of 2004. Water companies are now required to have in place drought plans which set out how they will continue to meet their duties to supply adequate quantities of wholesome water during drought periods with as little recourse as possible to drought orders or drought permits.
Further Information:
- Key Facts:
- Average rainfall and temperature in England and Wales
- Abstractions from non-tidal surface water and groundwater
- Water leakage
- Drinking water quality
Data Tables:
- References, further reading and links to other resources:
- [14] Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water: 2005/6 report, November 2006, Ofwat. Available as PDF
- Internet Links:
- For national and local information see:
- England and Wales: Ofwat
- Scotland: Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Water Industry Commission for Scotland
- Northern Ireland: Environment and Heritage Service
- Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland
- Environment Agency: Water Resources Situation for England and Wales
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Page last modified: 26 January 2007
Page published: 24 January 2006