Whinging water bosses plan to hit families with summer surge pricing after complaining too many are filling up pools
PADDLING FOOLS! Whinging water bosses plan to hit families with summer surge pricing after complaining too many are filling up pools
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WHINGING water bosses have complained to ministers that too many Brits are filling up their paddling pools in the heatwave.
They are also plotting to clobber families with higher summer charges under controversial surge pricing plans.
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Whinging water bosses have complained to ministers that too many Brits are filling up their paddling pools in the heatwave
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Feargal Sharkey said: 'Water company bosses are only too happy to pile the blame and pass the buck on to the customers'
Credit: AFP
Britain is baking in its third heatwave of the year, with temperatures soaring to a sweaty 33C yesterday — hotter than Barbados.
But water company bosses have told the Government that families seeking respite with a paddling pool are putting a strain on supplies and harming water pressure.
Furious campaigners slammed bosses for moaning about paddling pools while failing to fix pipes responsible for massive leaks.
More than one trillion litres of water were lost to leaks in the year 2023/24.
And fat cat bosses have bagged huge bonuses despite rising bills and sewage crises.
Last year, Yorkshire Water CEO Nicola Shaw was paid salary and benefits worth £657,000 and a £371,000 bonus.
But bosses there are now banned from getting bonuses amid fury over the sewage crisis.
Thames Water, Anglian Water, Wessex Water, United Utilities and Southern Water are also subject to the ban.
Water campaigner Feargal Sharkey blasted greedy bosses.
He said: 'Water company bosses are only too happy to pile the blame and pass the buck on to the customers.
The hot weather has parched the land and drained reservoirs across the country as UK hit with hosepipe bans
'But they have woefully failed to build new pipes and fix old ones. That's why we are low on water.
'Rather than moan about paddling pools and hike prices in the summer, water bosses need to get their house in order, stop lining their own pockets and invest in new pipes to stop the leaks.'
Yorkshire and South East water companies have both imposed a hosepipe ban and told their customers to stop filling up paddling pools.
More than seven million Brits have been hit by the restrictions. More water firms are expected to follow.
They have woefully failed to build new pipes and fix old ones. That's why we are low on water
Feargal Sharkey, Water campaigner
Announcing their hosepipe ban earlier this week, Yorkshire Water said: 'We are asking customers to put down their hosepipes, so we can let our reservoirs recover.
'Our reservoir levels haven't actually increased since the last week of January.'
Customers must not use hosepipes to water gardens, or fill up swimming pools, paddling pools and hot tubs.
They also must not be used to fill or maintain a pond or water fountain.
But they are allowed to use a bucket of water or a watering can.
Meanwhile, Thames Water plans to make customers who use more than 685 litres a day pay 'twice the current rate'.
The firm is one of 15 carrying out or planning surge pricing trials, for customers with smart water meters, in the coming years.
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