Portsmouth Water warns hidden household leaks could waste hundreds of litres a day

Portsmouth Water is launching a new campaign to help households across Hampshire and West Sussex identify hidden leaks that could be wasting hundreds of litres of water every day.

The company says almost four in ten leaks it identifies occur on customers' own pipework and appliances, meaning thousands of litres of water could be going to waste without homeowners even realising.

Its new Find it Fix it Friday campaign will offer simple advice to help residents spot problems such as leaking toilets, dripping taps and faulty plumbing before they become more serious.

Every Friday until Christmas, Portsmouth Water will release a short video showing customers how to carry out straightforward checks around their homes and gardens.

The campaign follows findings from the company's smart meter programme, which revealed that around one in five households had a continuous flow of water, potentially indicating a leak.

On average, these leaks were wasting around 215 litres of water every day.

One of the biggest problems is leaking toilets, which can often go unnoticed because they make little or no noise.

According to Portsmouth Water, a single leaking toilet can waste the equivalent of five bathtubs of water every day.

The company says identifying these problems early can help households avoid unnecessary water waste and potentially prevent more expensive repairs.

During the summer, Portsmouth Water repaired more than 1,000 leaks across its network and says it is on course to achieve its highest-ever leak repair rate.

However, with approximately 38% of identified leaks occurring on customer-owned pipes and plumbing, the company says tackling the problem requires a combined effort.

Bob Taylor, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Water, said:

"Reducing leakage is one of our top priorities. We're investing heavily to find and repair leaks on our network, and our teams have worked incredibly hard this year to increase the number of leaks we're fixing.

"But leakage isn't just a challenge for water companies. Around 38% of the leaks we identify are on customers' own pipework, so we all have a part to play.

"The good news is that many of the most common leaks can be spotted early and fixed quickly. That's what Find it Fix it Friday is all about. We're sharing simple, practical advice that can help customers save water, avoid unnecessary waste and protect this precious resource for the future."

The weekly videos will cover common sources of water waste, including leaking toilets, dripping taps, outdoor taps, stop taps and other plumbing problems around the home.

Portsmouth Water says the initiative forms part of its wider programme to encourage more efficient water use and protect supplies for future generations.

The company is also offering free water efficiency home visits to help customers identify ways to reduce water consumption.

Residents can request a visit by emailing demandreduction@portsmouthwater.co.uk or calling 02392 499888 and asking for the Demand Reduction team.

The Find it Fix it Friday videos will be published every Friday on Portsmouth Water's website and social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

More information is available at www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/finditfixit.

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