Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his department issues to water companies on the use of reductions in mains water pressure as a method of managing leakage or supply constraints.

The Government does not issue guidance to water companies to reduce mains water pressure as a method of managing leakage or supply constraints. Companies are expected to control leakage through investment and efficiency. They must also meet minimum pressure standards under the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, with compensation payable where these are not met.