- Hosepipe ban implemented by Thames Water has sparked anger among the public.
- 47% of adults in England believe water companies should meet their own obligations before asking customers to cut down, as nearly 3 billion litres of drinking water are lost daily to leaks.
- Customer bills in England rose by 26% last year to pay for collapsing sewers and leaky pipes that companies had neglected.
- Only 14% of English rivers have good environmental health and there were 400,000 sewage spills last year.
- Support for water renationalisation rose from 59% in 2017 to over 80% now.
- Landmark criminal charges were brought against former Southern Water executives for allegedly falsifying wastewater compliance tests, accused of authorising tanker lorries of sewage to avoid testing and £45 million in fines.
Thames Water's recent hosepipe ban has ignited public anger, with many questioning the company's accountability amidst severe water loss issues. Research indicates that 47% of adults in England feel water companies should first address their own inefficiencies before imposing restrictions on customers.12
According to the water regulator Ofwat, almost three billion litres of drinking water are lost daily in England and Wales due to leaks, which is five times more than the amount saved by the hosepipe ban. This situation is compounded by rising customer bills, which increased by 26% last year to cover the costs of neglected infrastructure, including collapsing sewers and leaky pipes.
Public sentiment is shifting, with support for water renationalisation rising from 59% in 2017 to over 80% now. The anger is further fueled by recent criminal charges against former Southern Water executives for allegedly falsifying wastewater compliance tests, avoiding £45 million in fines by obstructing inspections.67
With only 14% of English rivers deemed to have good environmental health and 400,000 sewage spills reported last year, the public's frustration with water companies is palpable, as they grapple with the implications of the hosepipe ban while facing systemic failures.4
“47% of adults in England believe water companies should meet their own obligations before asking customers to cut down, as nearly 3 billion litres of drinking water are lost daily to leaks. Landmark criminal charges were brought against former Southern Water executives for allegedly falsifying wastewater compliance tests.”
The Times
