UNITED UTILITIES has put out a special plea to pedestrians in a bid to help tackle leaks.
The North West water company is encouraging dog walkers and joggers to keep their eyes peeled for evidence of water leaks and to report any suspicious puddles.
In an average week the water company fixes around 450 leaks, which rises to around 750 during cold snaps.
While United Utilities finds around 60 per cent of leaks, with 26,000 miles of pipes in the region it is not always possible to know about each one.
Dave Briers, water network delivery manager at United Utilities, said: “There are many different causes of leaks.
“It could be due to ground movement caused by heavy traffic or freezing conditions; tree roots can damage pipes over time and so can building work. They can occur anywhere at any time.
“Members of the public who walk specific routes regularly are ideally placed to spot a leak developing and, unlike motorists, have their phones ready to tweet or message us so we can get our team investigating. Reports like this are a massive help.”
And United Utilities has also launched a new video with a step-by-step guide to help customers know exactly what happens after they report a leak. See it online: www.unitedutilities.com/customer-cafe
Meanwhile, the company has also produced a free advice pack to help people keep their homes ‘healthy’ this winter.
‘Fight the freeze: a guide to winter warmth’ features advice on how to avoid frozen pipes, what to do if a pipe should burst, and a range of additional tips to help homeowners keep the heat in, and cold out.
Dave added: “There are many ways we can stay warm and well over winter such as eating right, wrapping up and knowing where to turn with any health niggles.
“But what many people often don’t realise is that taking a few simple steps to keep our homes freeze free can also make a big difference to our overall wellbeing.”
According to the guide, one of the simplest things people can do to protect their homes from the cold is to lag their pipes, especially any in a garage or loft as these are most likely to freeze and burst during colder weather.
Homeowners are also encouraged to locate and label their stop tap – which controls water supply to a house – so that in the event of a burst, water can turned off immediately to avoid damage that may leave properties cold and damp.
The new guide also includes broader advice to help with winter wellbeing, such as where to access financial support with heating bills, where to look for warming nutritious recipes, and who to turn to with concerns for those vulnerable to colder conditions.
Leakage reports can be made to United Utilities by calling free phone 0800 330033, online www.unitedutilities.com/report-a-leak or tweeting @unitedutilities using hashtag #UULeakline
‘Fight the freeze: a guide to winter warmth’ is available to download for free from www.unitedutilities.com/winterwise
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