Northumbrian Water Group water companies have repaired more that 17,700 water leaks in the past year.
Northumbrian Water’s leakage teams completed over 10,000 repair jobs - an average of 833 per month n 2025. To date in January and February of 2026, a total of 1,772 jobs were completed.
In the last 12 months, the water company has also upgraded 45 district meters. The district meters separate out areas of the network and monitor the flow of water through the network, so it is easier for the teams to identify when there is a potential problem and investigate for leaks.
The teams have also been deploying innovative new tactics to tackle leaks this year – such as using satellite technology to pinpoint exact locations of bursts to enable faster fixes and using drones to help reach remote areas.
Jim Howey, Head of Water Networks for Northumbrian Water, said:
“We look at unusual activity on the network, high demand in certain areas and unexpectedly high customer bills, to identify any possible leaks and use this as a way of finding and fixing the problem. This means there are several teams across the business who contribute to this effort.
“Then we have the ground crews who are out working in all weathers to carry out the work to make the repair, using their skills to identify the problem and find a solution.”
Essex & Suffolk Water increases leakage repairs
Teams from Northumbrian Water’s sister company Essex & Suffolk Water have also been working harder than ever to find and fix leaks and save water.
In 2025, a total of 7,697 repair jobs were completed by the leakage teams, which is an average of 641 per month.
So far in 2026, during January and February, 1,254 repairs have been carried out - an average of 627 a month.
The ESW teams have likewise been deploying innovative new tactics to tackle leaks, including satellite technology and using drones.
Carly Gray, Head of Water Networks for Essex & Suffolk Water, added:
“These repairs make a real difference to the resilience of our network as we move into 2026, especially as we continue to invest in major improvements, such as the Layer to Langford pipeline projects and upgrades across our wider water infrastructure. It’s truly a team effort.
Both companies are currently in the process of delivering their largest investment programmes in the last 30 years.
Northumbrian Water is investing c.£4.5 billion in total in the region between the AMP8 2025 - 2030 investment period, while Essex & Suffolk Water is investing c.£1.5 billion in total in its region.
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