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You could have had a hosepipe on constantly since before the Queen was on the throne and you still wouldn’t have used as much as Thames Water wastes in 24 hours, says the national secretary of GMB.
The union says that Thames Water wastes the same amount of water as having a hosepipe on for more than 73 years – every single day.
GMB has long campaigned for water to be brought back into public hands.
Thames Water has today (24 August) introduced a hosepipe ban on 15 million customers due to droughts.
But Thames Water’s creaking infrastructure means it it loses 635 million litres in leaks every single day – enough to have a hosepipe on for 73 years, fill 245 Olympic-sized swimming pools or fill 8 million baths.
Last year Thames Water handed its directors more than £4 million, with the highest-paid director pocketing £1.5 million – up 67% from the year before.
‘From today, 15 million people across the South East can no longer use their hosepipe.
‘Meanwhile every single day, Thames Water wastes enough water to have a hosepipe on for more than 70 years.
‘You could have had a hosepipe on constantly since before the Queen was on the throne and you still wouldn’t have used as much as Thames Water wastes in just 24 hours.
‘Instead of spending money to fix the leaky infrastructure, they’re showering directors with eye-watering sums.
‘It’s jaw-dropping incompetence and greed.
‘Privatising water has been a disastrous failed experiment, it’s time to bring this essential natural resource back into public hands.’
ANDY PRENDERGAST
GMB national secretary
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