Leaky pipes in Hertfordshire and north west London are losing millions of litres of water every day.

A parliamentary committee has warned parts of the country will run out of water within the next 20 years if water companies do not address the issue.

Data from OFWAT, responsible for regulating England and Wales’ water industry, has revealed Affinity Water loses 10,700 litres of water per kilometre of pipe every day – the second most out of any company in England.

Officials at the company say they have reduced leakage by 15 per cent over the last five years and aim to be “world class on leakage” by halving their current losses by 2040.

The worst performing company, Thames Water, is losing 22,200 litres per km.

Around 20 per cent of the public water supply, equivalent to 3 billion litres, is lost to leakage every day.

This is down from a high of over 4.5 billion litres a day in the early 1990s but higher now than it was 20 years ago.

Demand for water is about 14 billion litres per day in England and Wales.

Due to rising demand and falling supply of water the Environment Agency now estimates that England will need an extra 3.6 billion litres per day by 2050 to avoid shortages.

The Public Accounts select committee has further warned that some areas are facing water shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A spokesperson for Affinity Water said: “We welcome the committee’s report which highlights the need to introduce a labelling scheme for water using products letting consumers have more information just like we do with energy ratings on white goods.

“Between 2015 and 2020 Affinity Water achieved an overall leakage reduction of 15 per cent which is nationally leading.

"Over the next five years we are planning to cut leakage by a further 20 per cent. Our ultimate aim is become world class on leakage by halving leakage by 2040.”