Jeremy Corbyn slams water bosses as it emerges leaks equal total volume of Loch Ness
2 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has hit out at the water industry's "crumbling" infrastructure as it emerged the amount lost through leaks could fill Loch Ness.
Figures uncovered by Labour show that a 20% water is lost through leakages before it reaches homes,with more than 7.5 trillion litres wasted between 2010 and 2017 - the same volume as the famous Scottish loch.
Labour say figures from water regulator Ofwat also show that the value of water companies has quadrupled since the industry was privatised.
They claim the industry's failings bolster their calls for it to be brought back into public ownership.
Mr Corbyn, who will visit a pumping station later today, said: "Water should be provided for public good, not private profit. Thanks to the failures of privatised water companies, our water infrastructure is crumbling, and people are forced to pay through the nose for services.
"Under Labour’s plans to bring our water system into public ownership, profits will be reinvested so that households across the UK have better services and lower bills."
Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long Bailey said: "These figures show that the current water system is broken. It cannot be right that private companies are ballooning in value while customers pay the price in poor services and rising bills.
"These companies operate regional monopolies, giving customers no choice in who supplies their water.
"Labour will replace this dysfunctional system with a network of regional, publicly-owned water companies. Surplus profits will be reinvested in improving vital infrastructure and reducing customer bills."
In July, Environment Secretary Michael Gove hauled in water company bosses to demand they do more to stop leaks.
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