Thames Water Executives Should Line Their Pipes, Not Their Pockets

Hackney Gazette

We are all aware that these are times when we need to be more economical with our natural resources. Climate change is threatening to dramatically change weather conditions and in particular to increase the frequency and duration of droughts. How we use our water is becoming more and more important. Water shortages are already common place in many areas of the world and we are feeling the effects of global warming and over consumption here in the UK as well. In fact, restrictions on non-essential water use are already commonplace in some regions of the UK.

We need drastic action and we need it sooner rather than later.  We need better public education about how to cut water use in the home, and we need more affordable water efficient appliances for washing machines, toilets and showers. Cutting down is absolutely essential. Exhibits of drought-resistant plants at this week's Chelsea Flower Show (grown to accommodate the hosepipe ban in the South East) are making a mockery of the problem. This is a most serious issue for all of us. Sadly, we learned last week that our water companies do not take this seriously at all.

I was shocked to learn that water companies are wasting billions of litres of water every day. 23 water companies in England and Wales are losing between eight million and 915 million litres of water a day totalling 3.6 billion litres between them. Thames Water, the worst culprit, loses one-third of its water between the reservoir and the home, a staggering 915 million litres a day! Yet Thames has missed its target for reducing leaking pipes for five successive years.

As if that’s not bad enough the same water firms have just unveiled record annual profits thanks to soaring bills and operational cost-cutting. Thames, which has a hosepipe ban in force, has seen its profits sky rocket. These huge windfalls for shareholders are of course paid by us. Not only are some homes facing rationing on non-essential water use as millions of gallons leak from mains pipes, but our water bills too have soared in line with the water companies’ profits.

It is obscene that these water providers are increasing profits at the cost of the consumer as well as the environment. Bills continue to rise to pay for leakages, more Drought Orders wait in the pipeline and water companies seem mainly concerned with keeping their shareholders happy. They are ‘cost-cutting’ by keeping their infrastructure in disrepair and passing the soaring cost of increasingly scarce water onto the consumer.

The cost of all this water wasting is passed on to us is two-fold. Not only do our water bills continue to soar unnecessarily but we are also paying for the aggravation of the effects of global warming. I have tabled a Commons Motion calling on the Government to ensure that water companies improve their performance levels as a matter of urgency and that they are duly punished if they fail to tidy up their act. I want to make sure that Thames Water executives line their pipes, not their pockets!

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