Water works praised

Water

United Utilities has announced it has met its leakage target for the fifth year running, despite the most severe winter for over 100 years.

As the North West water company announced its full year results today, chief executive Steve Mogford paid tribute to the employees who worked around the clock over the Christmas and New Year period tackling unprecedented numbers of burst and frozen pipes.

Mr Mogford said: "Despite a year of extreme weather conditions United Utilities has demonstrated resilience and, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our employees, we have delivered vital services on tap and met our leakage target."

Over the Christmas and New Year period United Utilities took more than 80,000 calls from customers reporting burst and frozen pipes. At the height of the cold snap the company took ten times the usual volume of calls and was repairing 200 leaks a day.

Alongside the financial results the company also announced a strong start to its latest five year investment programme, with £600 million spent on projects to upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems.

Mr Mogford added: "Our capital investment programme is delivering real quality-of-life improvements across the North West. For example, we’re continuing to build on the bathing water quality improvements of the last 20 years, and since privatisation we will have invested £3 billion in this area alone.

"Looking ahead, our aim is to become the UK's leading water company. We are focused on providing the best service, at the lowest sustainable cost and in a responsible manner, for the long-term benefits of our customers, our shareholders and the environment."

Between 2010 and 2015 United Utilities will spend more than £3.6 billion on water quality and environmental improvements in the North West.