Thames Water has just published its half-year results, with the embattled water company facing more flak for a surge in pollution incidents.
The company, which needs urgent investment to prevent it from going bankrupt next year, revealed in its half-year results to September 30th that during that period, it suffered a 40 percent increase in pollution incidents, which it blamed on “record rainfall.”
However, at the same time, it recorded a record low number of leaks, reducing these by four per cent.
Thames was fined £104 million by water industry regulator Ofwat in August for sewage spills, with Yorkshire and Northumbrian also fined millions, due to a spate of spillages.
Faced with the challenges of avoiding sewage leaks and upgrading existing infrastructure to avoid spillages when water levels are high, water firms may rely heavily on concrete waterproofing companies to ensure they have the infrastructure in place to deal with these challenges.
Ironically, the Thames Water increase in sewage spills comes just after the Thames Tideway Tunnel – the so-called ‘super sewer’ – has become operational, designed to prevent sewage overflowing into the Thames when extra rain overwhelms the capital’s Victorian sewer system, built when London’s population was around four million.
Thames Water is far from the only company facing trouble with sewage spills and leaks. All 11 wastewater providers in England and Wales have faced enforcement action from Ofwat since the start of 2022, including Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent and United Utilities this year.
Furthermore, ahead of its election victory this year, the Labour Party’s manifesto proposed a series of tougher rules for water companies that pollute, from more powers for Ofwat to prosecutions for water company bosses. A bill was listed in the first King’s Speech of the new parliament.
All this means water firms will need to do more to prevent leaks and spills – or face greater consequences.