Yorkshire Water failing on leakage targets, says Ofwat
Yorkshire Water is failing to meet targets to cut leaks, the industry regulator has said.
The firm is one of six in England and Wales that failed to meet annual targets, an Ofwat report shows.
In 2010/11, the report showed the firm lost 325m litres a day through leakage, 9% above its target of 297m litres.
The company said it was "disappointed" by the figure, but had started to reduce leakage with a £39m infrastructure investment.
Ofwat acknowledged in the report - in which 21 firms across England and Wales were measured in 10 categories - that particularly low temperatures last winter hampered tackling leaks.
In reference to Yorkshire Water, it said it also had concerns over the maintenance of underground networks, including water mains, as well as the company's plan to deal with droughts.
Yorkshire Water said the winter conditions last year led to an "incredible operation to fix hundreds of bursts across the region."
"Since November last year, we have been carrying out a £39m programme of investment to increase the robustness of our pipes, with the good news being that leakage on our network has already been significantly reduced," it said.
"Indeed, so far this month we've recorded our lowest ever leakage levels in the company's history."
Yorkshire Water said it was committed to spending an additional £1.9bn until 2015 on maintenance and updating its network, including pumping stations and treatment works.
Ofwat said it would be in regular contact with Yorkshire Water regarding the area of concerns that it had raised.