Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the problem of water theft in the UK’s water industry.

Based on information provided by water companies, the Environment Agency assesses that around 3% of water put into public supply is used and not paid for. This includes water taken legally and water that is stolen. Water taken legally includes public supplies for which no charge is made, such as firefighting and training.

The ratio of the 3% taken legally to illegally is unknown.

Companies can take action through the courts against water thieves. For example, in September 2017, Thames Water took Kilgannon Street Care to court, who admitted 12 offences under the Water Industry Act 1991 and was ordered to pay more than £5,000 in fines and costs.