Thames Water has hit a key milestone with the installation of half of million smart water meters in its region.

Its rollout, which currently covers London and the village of Haslemere, near Guildford, is the biggest smart water meter programme in the UK.

Smart meters give customers greater control over their water use and bills and the data is also proving a vital tool in Thames Water’s battle to reduce leakage and meet the “unprecedented demand” for water as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

To date, smart water meters have helped detect more than 28,000 leaks on customers’ private supply pipes, which have been repaired by Thames Water or the property owners and saved 43 million litres of water a day.

By 2025, Thames Water plans to start the rollout of smart meters across the Thames Valley and expects to have meters fitted in all suitable homes by 2035.

Mark Cooper, Head of Metering at Thames Water said: “The use of smart meters has been a real game changer as they give us a such a detailed insight into exactly where the water we put into supply goes, when our customers use water and how much they use. The data has been particularly invaluable over the last 12 months as the traditional demand patterns we’ve been used to have changed significantly due to lockdown.

“The typical peak demand periods of early morning and evening are no longer so prominent as fewer people are leaving their homes for work so might shower, use the washing machine or water the plants in the middle part of the day instead.”