19th July 2005

Oxfordshire Green Party today warned that unless drastic steps are taken to regulate the privatised water companies, Oxfordshire could face drought within the next few years. Reacting to news that Thames Water has admitted to losing 915 million litres a day (1) from its network, and to warnings that a hosepipe ban could be imminent in the county, Greens are demanding that stricter action be taken to prevent water leaks in Oxfordshire.

Cllr Matt Sellwood, Deputy Leader of the City Council Green Group, commented:

"At a time when the county has had less than 2/3rds of its average rainfall for this stage in the year, and when more than 1/3rd of our water is lost in leaks before it can be used, drastic action needs to be taken. Ofwat has condemned the performance of Thames Water, and yet it continues to set targets without punishing the water companies for missing them. With hotter summers and less rainfall predicted due to climate change, Oxfordshire is heading  towards a severe water shortage."

Cllr Deborah Glass Woodin, who is an Oxfordshire County Councillor for the Green Party and Deputy Leader of the County Group, added: "The problem is made even worse by the Government's plans for even more housing in the South-East of England. We simply don't have the infrastructure to support such a scheme, and when combined with the dreadful performance of the water utilities, the system could well collapse within the next few years. We need radical action from national government to regulate the privatised water system, before it is too late."

FMI, contact Deborah Glass Woodin 01865 248073 / Matt Sellwood 01865 202257 (temporary)

NOTES:

(1) This is enough water to fill 366 Olympic sized swimming pools - a day!