An investigation by The Guardian has found that the supply of water by Thames Water is ‘on knife-edge’ with £23bn repairs needed. It also says the company has failed to tackle serious safety concerns or upgrade vital IT systems.

Photo credit: Johannes Plenio

Britain’s biggest water company has failed to tackle adequately serious safety concerns, has not upgraded essential IT systems and has tolerated a culture of intimidation among staff, according to insiders and an analysis of documents.

The investigation suggests that the company is in a worse financial state than previously admitted, and neither its managers nor regulators appear to have grasped the perilous state of some of its reservoirs and pipes.

The Guardian has also discovered that key data is still managed on obsolete software that dates to 1989. Sources claim that the company has been subject to cyber-attacks from groups affiliated with hostile states, including Russia.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “The wellbeing and safety of our colleagues and customers is our highest priority.” Regarding cyber-attacks, Thames declined to comment on the record, but a source at the company said it had “not experienced any cyber-attacks, full stop”.

The Guardian has spent several months investigating the finances and culture of Thames Water.

Thames Water supply ‘on knife-edge’ with £23bn repairs needed

Thames Water’s IT ‘falling apart’ and is hit by cyber-attacks, sources claim