Water firm blames freezing weather for 300 leaks
PA MediaA water company has blamed cold weather for causing hundreds of leaks on its network in a single week.
Northumbrian Water said its teams fixed 300 issues across north-east England in the week beginning 12 January caused by temperatures which made the ground repeatedly harden and soften, creating pressure that caused pipes to leak or burst.
But Steve Lavelle, a campaigner from South Tyneside, said poor weather is "not a new phenomenon" and blamed the company for failing to maintain its network.
"Poor weather and freezing ground is a part of living in the North East in the winter months," he said.
"The fact is that Northumbrian Water has failed to adequately invest in its infrastructure since it was privatised, hence the leaky network.
"The fresh water pipes are leaking in winter and the wastewater sewer overflows are discharging into the environment illegally all year round."
The company said fluctuating temperatures put additional pressure on pipes, valves and fittings.
A spokesperson said its teams had been "deploying drones to help locate leaks in hard-to-reach rural areas and using satellite technology to detect underground leakage".
Last year, Northumbrian Water agreed to pay out £15.7m after regulator Ofwat found failures in the maintenance and operations of its sewage and water network.
