10 July 2010
Most of the North-West of England has now been subjected to a hosepipe ban as resevoir levels fall; this is in spite of record-breaking rainfall in Cumbria late last year. Manchester Hulme Green Party candidate Gayle O'Donovan stated that both individual consumers and United Utilities had a role to play in managing water conservation.
Speaking on BBC's Radio Manchester Gayle said that there were a number of things consumers could do to reduce water wastage, including low-flow dual flush toilets and harvesting rainwater. She also said it was important to conserve water on an on-going basis not just at times like these as we are experiencing changing weather patterns and this is likely to become more frequent.
Gayle later spoke of the need for United Utilities, the North-West's water company, to do much more to tackle water leaks.
She said "Out of every four gallons which is supposed to come out of our taps, one gallon is lost.
They lose nearly 500million litres of water a year due to leaks(old pipes, not reacting quickly enough to tackle leaks etc). Unites Utilities is the 3rd worse company for leaks in the country despite bringing in massive profits(500 million pre-tax per yr)."
PS: United Utilities have been in the news recently for other matters: see article here published in the excellent independent Manchester publication: 'The Mule'
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