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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the (a) Environment Agency and (b) Drinking Water Inspectorate assesses the potential impact of repeated potable-water leaks on (i) soil structure damage, (ii) runoff pathways and (iii) other (A) environmental and (B) soil issues; and if she will issue guidance to farmers on (1) reporting and (2) remediation.

The Environment Agency has ensured that water companies have robust plans in place to halve leakage by 2050. The pathway to achieving this involves a reduction of approximately 30% by 2030 from 2019/20 levels. This equates to a nearly 700 Million litres per day reduction in leakage from the baseline. Water companies are now funded to deliver this through their business plans, and regulators will be assessing company performance in meeting this commitment.