Thames Water has launched a new reporting tool and interactive map to enable the public to report sewer flooding, blockages or leaks across London. 

You can now report a range of problems online, from either a desktop or on the go via a mobile phone.   

David Bird, retail director at Thames Water, said: "We're delighted our new online map has gone live. As a company we are committed to connecting with our 15 million customers and improving the service we provide to them. With this new tool, customers can report issues in a fast and simple manner that works for them."

You can now report leaks on your phone. (Photo: Supplied)

Thames Water's pipe leaks are currently at its highest level in five years, losing an estimated 630million litres of water a day. These include water lost on company and consumer pipes, as well as unmeasured consumption. 

In 2022/23 the company reduced leakage by 10.7%, calculated using a three-year average from the 2019/20 baseline; however, this is below its target reduction of 14.1%

On its website, Thames Water admits it is unacceptable that so much water is being lost and is doing all that is reasonably practical to reduce leakage. It adds it will miss its 22/23 target, and that will affect future years.

In its most recent annual report, Thames Water has show it has missed its target on clearing blockages from the network. It cleared 73,780 between 2022-2023, overshooting its target of 67,500.

The BBC revealed on 10 November the River Thames has been polluted by at least 72 billion litres of sewage discharges since 2020. A Freedom of Information (FoI) request shows the worst impacted site since 2020 as Mogden near Twickenham in south-west London where 17.1 billion litres of sewage was discharged.

Thames Water's annual report states: "We are reviewing our resource and vehicle availability to ensure a prompt, 'right first time' response. We are also continuing to improve the analysis informing our planned programme so that we proactively clear blockages from the most problematic areas of the network. This should also reduce our sewer flooding risk.

"Over the next two years, we will continue to invest in sewage treatment plants and sewers, including significant upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and sewerage networks to reduce storm discharges and pollution incidents."

You can locate the problem using an interactive map. (Photo: Supplied)

You can also report pollutions using the new map. Thames Water states this is part of its "ongoing commitment to transparency and to help protect rivers and streams".  

Mr Bird said: "We're also excited members of the public are now able to report pollutions they spot online. Our aim will always be to try and do the right thing for our rivers and we're grateful to anyone who takes the initiative to tell us about a possible pollution." 

How can members of the public report a potential issue?   

• With graphics and help guides available, users will also be able to use the site to easily narrow down the nature of the problem they are experiencing or have witnessed.  
• Users can then report the problem, upload photos and videos and provide a location by using the interactive map, which contains boundary lines and property numbers, to pinpoint the exact location of the problem.   
• Users can also use the map to view all planned maintenance work going on in their area, including details of traffic and roadwork updates so motorists can better plan their journeys.   

Once reported, the company's operational software will schedule for the issue to be investigated and where necessary fixed by Thames Water engineers. Members of the public will receive a case reference number and users will be able to receive progress alerts and updates.    

  Mr Bird added: "Time can sometimes be a crucial factor in turning a minor issue into a major one. We're making it as quick and easy as possible for people to report something when they see it, because the sooner we can get to a problem the better."