Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has called on Yorkshire Water to accelerate leak repairs and publish a detailed plan to reduce water losses.
His call follows last week’s declaration of drought in Yorkshire for the second year running.
Mr Gordon said Yorkshire Water’s own figures showed more than 260 million litres of water were lost through leaking pipes each day last year – equivalent to around 95 billion litres over the year.
With no water restrictions currently in place, he is seeking reassurance that action will be taken to help avoid a repeat of last year’s hosepipe ban.
Tom Gordon said:
“I’m calling on Yorkshire Water to step up leak repairs and publish a clearer, detailed leak reduction plan.
"Residents will always do their bit, but nobody wants a repeat of last year’s hosepipe ban.
“We need the reassurance of a ramped-up plan, so we can rest easy knowing the impacts of drought and climate change will be mitigated, and the burden won’t fall on the people whose water bills have already been climbing.”
Environmental Agency (EA) manager Vicki Townend said:
"The ongoing lack of rainfall means the flow in rivers and groundwater levels in certain parts of our area are very low and have now reached our trigger for declaring a drought.
"Even if we receive a few weeks of rain, we cannot quickly reverse the effects of the lack of rainfall during a very dry spring and summer."
The drought follows an exceptionally hot, dry summer and below-average September rainfall.
East Yorkshire was the UK’s driest area last month, with some locations receiving less than 20% of their expected rainfall.
Reservoirs are just above 40% capacity - below levels seen during last year’s hosepipe ban - while groundwater levels in East Yorkshire are also very low.
Restrictions are not expected as demand falls heading into winter, but a dry autumn and winter could increase the risk of restrictions next summer.
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