Figures which show South West Water losing 107 million litres of water a day due to leaks have sparked an angry response from a South Devon MP.

The figures come as the water company brings in a hosepipe ban across the area in response to the prolonged dry spell.

South West Water (SWW) says it is working hard to cut down the amount of water which leaks from its pipes.

South Devon Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden cited figures which showed that SWW lost 39,347million litres of water due to leaks in 2024/2025 – the equivalent of 5.8 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day. 

She called on the company to get its house in order urgently by fixing the leaky infrastructure rather than simply imposing hosepipe bans on its customers.

Ms Voaden added: “South West Water has got away with its grossly negligent handling of our water infrastructure for far too long, and now these figures prove it.

“While residents in South Devon are facing a hosepipe ban, South West Water is taking them for a ride. Instead of fixing their infrastructure, they are rewarding their unaccountable bosses with exorbitant bonuses while their customers languish at the back of the queue.”

She said it had been almost a year since the government promised to bring the water industry under control, but little had happened.

“It’s not good enough,” she said. “The government must immediately replace Ofwat with a powerful new regulator in order to hold South West Water to account for its persistent failures.”

As the climate continues to change and heatwaves become commonplace, Ms Voaden is demanding that the government include measures to reduce leaks in the upcoming Water (Special Measures) Bill.

“Under the mutual model of ownership that we are calling for, infrastructure investment would be a priority for water companies, with bills reinvested into stopping leaks and preventing sewage dumping,” she added.

The hosepipe ban came into force last weekend and covers Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly. Customers must not use hosepipes for non-essential purposes while the ban is in place.

This includes using a hosepipe to water a garden; wash a car; fill a paddling pool, swimming pool or hot tub; clean a patio or driveway; or clean walls and windows.

The water company says the hosepipe ban has come after an extended period of exceptionally low rainfall, combined with sustained high demand during the warmer weather.

It says its teams are working tirelessly to protect supplies for customers, maximising water production and increasing leak detection and repairs.

It has also encouraged households to check their own appliances and toilets for potential leaks which may have gone unnoticed.

Data from the House of Commons Library shows SWW losing 107.8million litres of water to leaks every day during 2024/25, amounting to 105.8 litres per customer every day.