Shortage of London water 'in 10 years'

Londoners face water shortages within a decade unless action is taken to stem leaks, a report warns today.

The capital loses almost one billion litres of water each day before it reaches the customer - 40 per cent of the national total.

Now the London Assembly environment committee has criticised Thames Water for failing to plan long term when water and sewerage bills will rise to an average of ?261 a year and the company makes ?200 million a year.

Darren Johnson, who chairs the committee, said: "Thames Water's consistent failure to achieve the leakage reduction targets is completely unacceptable.

"Water companies' priorities seem to be big profits and dividends and bonuses for executives. Continuing this attitude will be disastrous."

The committee wants better education on how to preserve water.

A Thames spokesman said: "We are absolutely clear our biggest short-term target is water leakage."