10 Jul 2024

According to The Guardian, the prime minister and chancellor have been briefed by Whitehall officials that the poor state of Thames Water presents a “critical risk” to the country. Fears about the company go beyond its precarious financial position and include the management of sites that provide drinking water and sewage treatment for millions of […]

10 Jul 2024

Thames Water’s annual results  have raised some eyebrows this week, as they suggest the company only has sufficient funding to operate until May 2025. The results have raised fears over its potential collapse, unless investors provide additional funds. In light of concerns about Thames, Ofwat has published an Information note on Thames Water’s draft determination. […]

03 Jul 2024

Last week, The Guardian reported that “hours before its shareholders U-turned on plans to pump emergency funding” the Thames Water board had approved the payment of a £150 million dividend to intermediate parent company Kemble Water Eurobond. On Tuesday this week, the matter was discussed on the Today programme, with Ofwat denying it had agreed […]

26 Jun 2024

Lots more coverage of water quality and sewage overflows again this week. Just some of the coverage…. Labour and Lib Dems step up campaigns on sewage dumping (BBC) Revealed: the ‘catastrophic scale’ of sewage spills in England and Wales (Guardian) ‘Poo in the Water’: How Financial Engineering Sullied Britain’s Most Famous River (Wall Street Journal) […]

19 Jun 2024

Thames Water has opened its consultation on plans for SESRO (South East Strategic Reservoir Option) – a major new strategic reservoir in Oxfordshire. The proposals have been developed in conjunction with Southern Water and Affinity Water, as the reservoir is designed to secure future water supplies for all three company’s customers, a projected 15 million […]

19 Jun 2024

Reported in The Mirror online Competitors taking part in a triathlon which involved swimming in the River Thames have been struck down with vomiting and diarrhoea with some even rushed to hospital because they felt so unwell. A large group took part in the Royal Windsor Triathlon in Berkshire on Sunday, but a number said […]

08 May 2024

The Thames Barrier, originally designed to last until 2030, was opened 40 years ago this week. It is one of the largest movable barriers in the world and is operated and maintained by the Environment Agency. The Barrier and the other flood defences across the wider estuary protect 125 square kilometres of central London, encompassing 1.42 million […]

01 May 2024

Bloomberg reports that the Thames Water Crisis Risks £100 Billion UK Investment Plan, and that creditors warn Thames writedowns will push up borrowing costs. The debt crisis at Thames Water is jeopardizing £100 billion ($125 billion) of potential investment required over the next five years to mend Britain’s crumbling utilities infrastructure. Water companies have promised […]