If the water companies were still nationalised I guess that the hosepipe ban would be country wide. This present ban id being done by just one water company, for now - United Utilities - so maybe it is better we are not nationalised at the moment?

What I find most annoying is that you drive around the North West and see water leakis all over the place. When you ring them they say it has not been reported previously, but surely United Utilities have enough people driving around that see these leaks too? Why do they not report them as well?

Some leaks takes umpeen reports before they are actioned (according to interviews on the News last night) and I know my dealings with United Utilities have not been good. Their Customer Services leave a lot to be desired (at least the ones I have dealt with) when there is a problem. And they always seem to deny previous knowledge of a problem.

They should get fined for not attending a reported leak within 12 hours and not doing something about it.

mp