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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Helena Horton Environment reporter

Water companies in England ‘will take 2,000 years to replace pipe network’

A burst water main
Water leaks from old pipes during a very dry year are exacerbating droughts. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Rex/Shutterstock

It would take English water companies 2,000 years to replace their pipes at current rates, leaked data reveals.

Analysis of Water UK data from 2021 by the Angling Trust has found that on average, water companies replace 0.05% of their water and wastewater pipe networks a year.

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