Figures released by Essex & Suffolk Water have shown that between January and June the number of leaky pipes repaired has increased by 30 per cent in 2025 compared to 2024.
4,047 repairs have been made between January and June, compared with 2,856 during the same six months in 2024.
It follows the introduction of extra teams put in place to tackle leakage and comes as the water company is encouraging customers to use water wisely in the face of Essex’s fourth driest January to July period since 1960. In Suffolk it is the second driest March to May period since 1921.
“We have to play our part in using water wisely and that involves repairing leaking pipes and doing our bit to make sure our infrastructure is up to the job of keeping water flowing, especially when the weather is hot and dry.
“The weather has a huge impact on the ground conditions. When the heat dries all the moisture out of the ground, it goes hard and cracks. This causes the underground pipes to move and that’s when pipes crack, valves leak, and fittings become loose.
“The material of the pipes is also a contributory factor. The newer plastic pipes have a bit more flexibility in them for ground movement, which is why we’re investing heavily in replacing pipes in our network.
“If we can do this, alongside our customers using water wisely, then we can keep the water flowing.”
The company’s leakage teams are actively out looking for leaks.
Using monitors magnetically attached to pipes overnight, the technology shows if there is water flowing at 3am in the morning, when water use is minimal because people are asleep. If there are any unusual results, a technician will manually check the water flow using a listening rod. If they can hear a leak, then they log the job and notify the nearby homeowners. Essex & Suffolk Water are responsible for leaks on the network, while the homeowner is responsible for leaks on the property side.
The company also makes it a priority to repair emergency leaks, and relies on customers to report any sudden puddles or flows of water in roads or on paths. This can be done though the portal on the Essex & Suffolk website: Report Water Problems Or Water Wastage.
The emergency repair teams do their best to get to a job, solve the issue, tidy up and get out, causing as little disruption as possible. It is understandable that roadworks, diversions and road closures are frustrating for drivers and residents, but the teams do everything they can to work quickly. They look at the entire pipe and make sure that while the ground is open, everything that needs replacing or fixing is repaired before the hole gets backfilled.
Kieran added: “Our teams are out and about working hard and doing their best, sometimes working in very messy conditions, hot weather and high-pressure situations. We are grateful to every member of the public who is respectful and shows gratitude to those teams, who are just doing their job and trying to make sure the water keeps flowing for everyone.”
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28.08.2025
