Anglian Water has the best leakage record in the country, according to figures published by OFWAT (the water regulator ) . Anglian Water's leakage currently stands at 5.8 cubic metres per kilometre of water pipe per day. This compares to an indistry average of 11.2 cubic metres for the large ten water companies.

Last year, Anglian Water reduced its leakage by some 34 million litres of water a day. This is enough to supply a city like Norwich or Peterborough with its daily water needs.

Anglian Water needs low leakage because it operates in the driest part of the United Kingdom. The region is also developing rapidly in terms of new housing and the economy. Low leakage means good water resource management.

Anglian Water aims to maintain and improve further this leading position. Last year, the company spent some £16 million on reducing leakage. In the United Kingdom, Anglian Water's pipes could stretch all the way round the world, as they cover some 34,500 kilometres. These pipes are constantly monitored and checked for leaks using the world's leading telemetry system.

Roy Pointer, Anglian Water Services' managing director, said: "We are thrilled that OFWAT has confirmed us as the UK's leading leakage control company. However, we are not complacent and we will be working hard to stay at the top of the pack.

"We see the UK business as our shop window, where excellent performance at home enables us to export our skills overseas. Anglian Water has already been successful in this and is currently working in Dublin, Ireland, to reduce the capital's leakage. We are also one of the preferred bidders for a leakage contract in Bangkok, Thailand. The company has also worked on the leakage as far afield as the Middle East and India."