THAMES WATER was slammed for announcing a hosepipe ban today after losing 200 billion litres of water through leaks last year.

GMB said that the ban was “disgraceful” as Britain’s biggest utility provider has failed to invest in infrastructure and hiked its average monthly bill by £17 in April.

“Thames Water lost 200 billion litres of water through leaks last year,” said GMB national officer Gary Carter.

“That’s 570 million litres wasted every single day — the worst in the country.

“GMB members at Thames are working hard and doing the best they can, but they’ve had their hands tied behind their backs by crumbling infrastructure and non-existent investment.

“For Thames Water to now impose a hosepipe ban while bills rocket is disgraceful.”

Thames Water said that its ban will come into effect from July 22. London has been excluded, with it due to affect some 1.1 million customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Swindon, most of Wiltshire and parts of Berkshire.

It is the latest to announce a ban after Britain experienced its warmest spring on record and the driest in more than 50 years.

The Environment Agency has placed the areas covered by Thames Water into the “prolonged dry weather category” and the water company says its drought plan is designed to mitigate the risk of further impact on water supplies and ensure taps can keep running.

Bans are already in place in several parts of the country. Yorkshire Water has implemented one, affecting households in York, Leeds, Hull, Doncaster and Sheffield.

South East Water has one in place from July 18, which will affect homes and businesses in Ashford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Maidstone, Haywards Heath and Royal Tunbridge Wells.