Old tree skeletons are exposed due to extremely low water levels at Colliford Lake near Bodmin in Cornwall as the driest summer for five decades continues

The number of leaks detected by some water suppliers has more than doubled since the start of the heatwave, as the drought continues to hit UK supplies. 

Firms have said the earth drying out has caused damage to underground pipes, putting additional strain on an already creaking water system.

And the Environment Agency has warned that the country’s infrastructure needs upgrading or Britain faces the prospect of water shortages in the next 25 years. 

Thames Water, which supplies to 15million people in South and South East England, has confirmed it has seen a doubling in the number of leaks reported on its system since July 19. 

The company’s pipes had already been leaking 624million litres of water every day, and said the new leaks were caused by the movement of the earth damaging pipes as it dries out. 

It add that soaring demand meant it was having to pump water at a higher pressure, putting further strain on its pipes.

The Times reports that Government sources have indicated that other water suppliers are seeing similar issues. 

Old tree skeletons are exposed due to extremely low water levels at Colliford Lake near Bodmin in Cornwall as the driest summer for five decades continues

Old tree skeletons are exposed due to extremely low water levels at Colliford Lake near Bodmin in Cornwall as the driest summer for five decades continues

Old tree skeletons are exposed due to extremely low water levels at Colliford Lake near Bodmin in Cornwall as the driest summer for five decades continues

As the Environment Agency declares a drought in large parts of England, officials have warned infrastructure needs to be upgraded to prevent water shortages in the next 25 years

As the Environment Agency declares a drought in large parts of England, officials have warned infrastructure needs to be upgraded to prevent water shortages in the next 25 years

As the Environment Agency declares a drought in large parts of England, officials have warned infrastructure needs to be upgraded to prevent water shortages in the next 25 years

Parched grass in St James's Park, London. Thames Water said it has seen a doubling in the number of leaks in its network since mid-July

Parched grass in St James's Park, London. Thames Water said it has seen a doubling in the number of leaks in its network since mid-July

Parched grass in St James’s Park, London. Thames Water said it has seen a doubling in the number of leaks in its network since mid-July

While Anglian Water denied the number of leaks on its network has doubled, the dry conditions meant it has had to devote 500 people to tackling the leaks.

David Beale, a consultant engineering hydrologist, told The Times: ‘The trees are extracting the remaining water so the ground is shrinking slightly and the old cast-iron Victorian water mains, and the plastic pipes of the 1970s, can’t cope with it. 

‘The problem is that the government is not taking climate change seriously. Things will get worse but there’s nothing seriously done about it.’

The Water Minister last night ordered supply firms to put their customers ahead of shareholders as he threatened companies with fines if they don’t fix leaks.

Steve Double told The Mail on Sunday that he expected better from the suppliers as he warned them they could face further action if progress isn’t made soon.

His comments came as an investigation by this newspaper revealed that water companies have paid £3 billion in dividends this year to shareholders at a time when the money could have been used to repair leaks, build new infrastructure, stop sewage pollution and help peg household bills.

We also reveal how water firms have debts of more than £60 billion, with interest bills alone ballooning by nearly £1 billion last year.

Data collected from more than 18 water companies, including Thames Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Welsh Water, showed that sites ranging from Oxfordshire and London, to Warwickshire, had no water or poor pressure

Data collected from more than 18 water companies, including Thames Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Welsh Water, showed that sites ranging from Oxfordshire and London, to Warwickshire, had no water or poor pressure

Data collected from more than 18 water companies, including Thames Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Welsh Water, showed that sites ranging from Oxfordshire and London, to Warwickshire, had no water or poor pressure

More than 30 million people in England and Wales face or are currently already under restrictions dictating how much water they can use.

Three companies – Welsh Water, Southern Water and South East Water – have all imposed hosepipe bans, while Yorkshire Water has announced a ban will start on August 26.

Thames Water has also said it is planning one within weeks.

Last night, Mr Double insisted water firms needed to do more to ensure they can withstand future droughts.

‘Water companies must continue to invest more, including to prevent leakage and work faster to fix leaks,’ he told The Mail on Sunday.

Dry grass covers a parched Primrose Hill following official droughts being declared in parts of England. Pictured on Saturday

Dry grass covers a parched Primrose Hill following official droughts being declared in parts of England. Pictured on Saturday

Dry grass covers a parched Primrose Hill following official droughts being declared in parts of England. Pictured on Saturday

Algal bloom on the Jubilee River on Friday in Dorney due to the ongoing hot weather Seasonal Weather

Algal bloom on the Jubilee River on Friday in Dorney due to the ongoing hot weather Seasonal Weather

Algal bloom on the Jubilee River on Friday in Dorney due to the ongoing hot weather Seasonal Weather

‘We are losing somewhere between 15 to 20 per cent annually through leakage, which is not acceptable.

‘Progress has been made but my message to water companies is they need to prioritise customers, not shareholder returns. If we don’t see the progress we expect, we won’t hesitate to take further action.

‘The public and Government rightly expect more from our water companies.’

The water industry was privatised in 1989 by the Thatcher government with no debt. 

Several of the companies have since fallen into the hands of foreign owners who have adopted aggressive, private equity-style financial engineering, loading their balance sheets with borrowings in order to maximise returns.

Critics argue the system is broken and that towering debts may become a catastrophic problem as interest rates rise.

Firms also stand accused of years of under-investment in infrastructure, which campaigners believe is hampering their ability to cope with the current drought.

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