Your morning reminder of exactly how deeply the water industry is in the sh*t.

Macquarie digs deeper for redemption at Southern Water. There was no alternative | Nils Pratley

Infamous former owner of Thames Water coughs up more capital in bid to turn around badly performing utility

theguardian.com

Holy sh*t…. 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

WATERSHED Investigations@watershed-i.bsky.social · last yr.

On BBC Breakfast this morning - Hayley Hassall updates on our investigation into PFOA pollution in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire. We discovered a huge 12,000 ng/l of the forever chemical, classed as a group 1 carcinogen by the WHO, near a chemical plant discharge outlet in the River Wyre.

"11 executives jailed over Italian PFAS pollution." Don't want to be giving the @watershed-i.bsky.social team any ideas or anything but....? www.chemistryworld.com/news/11-exec...

11 executives jailed over Italian PFAS pollution

Convictions relate to groundwater contamination around Miteni fluorochemicals plant

chemistryworld.com

"UK oysters and mussels hit by ‘disgustingly high’ number of sewage spills." Now about that seafood salad I was thinking of having for lunch? 🤔

UK oysters and mussels hit by ‘disgustingly high’ number of sewage spills

Experts say the sewage may be a key cause of E. coli in shellfish waters, leaving angry producers spending thousands of pounds a year to combat the pollution

inews.co.uk

"Nightmare 'smelly' village where locals stuff duvets down toilets so sewage doesn't bubble up." You have to admit it's right up there with "don't swim in the sea with your mouth open." Yes, people were actually told that.

Nightmare 'smelly' village where locals clog toilets so sewage doesn't bubble up

One resident in a nightmare Devon village has had condoms wash up in her garden as furious locals live with sewage and foul smells all while battling against plans for more homes in the area

mirror.co.uk

So exactly 16 days after govt introduced bans on 6 water companies paying bonuses, including @SouthWestWater fat cat CEO Susan Davy of South West Water fame gets paid nearly £200,000 in shares bonuses. That didn't take long then. As I said at the time, nothing but performative politics.

Would that be the same @SouthWestWater fat cat boss who was just given £237,000 in shares as a 'long-term' bonus bringing her total annual salary up to £860,000? Of course it would. Oh, and whatever did happen that ban on bonuses?

"SNP in humiliating u-turn over sewage spills after rivers and beaches marred by waste The Scottish Government was warned by its own environmental watchdog that it was breaking the law by not setting out when sewage could be spilled into rivers and beaches." Meanwhile north of the border. 🤔

SNP in humiliating u-turn over sewage spills after beaches marred by waste

Exclusive: The Scottish Government was warned by its own environmental watchdog that it was breaking the law by not setting out when sewage could be spilled into rivers and beaches.

scottishdailyexpress.co.uk

Beginning to suspect if I play this anymore this morning the family are going to come and lock me in the shed. Eat Quiche, Sleep, Repeat #getdown_services

Eat Quiche, Sleep, Repeat

YouTube video by Getdown Services - Topic

youtube.com

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... water company has confirmed one of its treatment works was the source of pollution that killed thousands of fish in a Cornish river." I see @SouthWestWater are up to their old tricks again.

Pollution from treatment works killed fish in Cornish river

South West Water says pollution in a Cornish river happened after a delivery to the plant.

bbc.co.uk

"Thames Water risks sinking free market dream. Until those of us who still believe in a streamlined state can say how to fix the utility’s failings, the case for privatisation rings hollow."

So all that guff about the water industry 'investing' £104bn, which is actually your money not theirs, well turns out the whole thing is just another load of hopeless old nonsense. Transpires they don't have enough engineers or skilled staff to build much of anything. Who knew. 🤔

I have to say it's an astonishing good listen. 😀

Environmental Audit Committee@commonseac.parliament.uk · last yr.

“We live in a country where there is not a single river that is not polluted” On Committee Corridor, Feargal Sharkey and @tobyperkinsmp.bsky.social unpack the issues of our waterways, and select committee efforts to hold the sector to account. Listen wherever you get podcasts 🎧

Has your local MP watched this, why not?!

Clive Lewis MP@labourlewis.bsky.social · last yr.

Our privatised water system is broken - but water companies are doing everything they can to keep the Ponzi scheme staggering on. A solution exists. Your MP needs to hear about it: actionnetwork.org/letters/ask-...

Mentioning United Utilities can anyone explain how a company can double its profits in just one year, from £170m to £355m, and yet is still be allowed to increase prices by a whopping 32%? Yet again it's the customers who get played and the regulator @Ofwat sits back and allows it to happen.

United Utilities profits double as it hikes customer bills

United Utilities pre-tax profits more than doubled to £355m for the year ending 31 March.

bbc.co.uk

"Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water fined £250,000 for sewage pollution." That of course would be the same Welsh Water who have already been found guilty of 234 environment offences in the last 10 years alone and paid £628,298 in fines. Really, what is the point? www.itv.com/news/wales/2...

“Thames Water renationalisation plans being stepped up”. Tick tock, tick tock….. All totally predictable, all should have been dealt with a year ago. Meanwhile prolonged dithering has cost bill payers how much?

Thames Water renationalisation plans being stepped up, says minister

Environment secretary indicates that calls from creditors for leniency from fines and penalties will be rejected

theguardian.com

“Labour accused of copying Tories with plans to clean waterways with company fines.” Appears govt have run out of ideas already, well that didn’t take long.

“Privatised water never worked. Now it might be over.” Anyone that disagrees feel free to raise your hand. www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Privatised water never worked. Now it might be over.

MPs are now calling for a different model of ownership.

newstatesman.com

So apart from wanting to be exempt from environmental laws and to have any current or future fines wavered @thameswater now also want the right “to raise prices at any time before 2030”.

"This cannot continue indefinitely." Residents demand answers from @anglianwater.bsky.social as roads close due to leaks and sinkholes – and thousands more homes are planned. Report by Owen Sennitt, Local Democracy Reporting Service #WaterWoes

Town at breaking point: water leaks, sinkholes and soaring growth

Norfolk town faces growing water woes as leaks and sinkholes raising concerns over infrastructure amid rapid expansion

eastangliabylines.co.uk

"Regulators have pushed hard to keep bills down, and politicians have, as ever, wanted a version of cakeism: lower bills, more investment and more capital maintenance. Regulators have made some pretty catastrophic mistakes, .....

The water problem: how to combine public control, private finance and consumer funding - Dieter Helm

The government wants to keep the water companies off the public balance sheet, and Sir Jon Cunliffe wants greater public supervision. Together, they want: public control; private finance; with current...

dieterhelm.co.uk

After months of evidence gathering and countless hearings the House of Commons @CommonsEFRA select committee pulls no punches and gives the water industry and regulators both barrels. committees.parliament.uk/publications...

The CommonsEFRA are particularly scathing of Ofwat's and EnvAgency's performance. "Not only has the regulatory system failed to protect water resources from such irresponsible leadership, but it also lacks oversight over critical elements of it."

UK water industry needs ‘root and branch reform’, MPs say." Pretty comprehensive pasting of the industry and regulators. Once again, bravo to the @CommonsEFRA for getting to the nub of the issue and telling it like it is. Impressive stuff and very welcome. 👏👏👏 www.ft.com/content/2b61...

UK water industry needs ‘root and branch reform’, MPs say

Cross-party group calls for ministers to consider bringing Thames Water under temporary state control

ft.com

"Water industry is ‘deaf’ to crisis facing sector, warn MPs." But what will govt's response be I wonder? More of the same fiddling around the edges while desperately trying to ignore the real issues? www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

Water industry is ‘deaf’ to crisis facing sector, warn MPs

Wide-ranging report calls for government review to recommend root-and-branch reform of the ‘failing’ sector’s culture

thetimes.com

"Water sector needs ‘root-and-branch’ reform, MPs say." It appears MPs agree. We were promised a root and brach review of the water industry, where is it? As I said last week, we were promised champagne now all we're getting is sour milk. www.cityam.com/water-sector...

Water sector needs ‘root-and-branch’ reform, MPs say

The water sector is in need of “root-and-branch reform”, a committee of MPs has said as it called for more regulation on bonuses.

cityam.com

"UK Lawmakers Take Swing at Irresponsible Water Company Leaders." And a well deserved swing it is to. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

UK Lawmakers Take Swing at Irresponsible Water Company Leaders

UK lawmakers called for more responsible ownership of the country’s water sector, after decades during which critical infrastructure was run for the benefit of private equity investors.

bloomberg.com

"Report says billpayer funds are being used irresponsibly". The @CommonsEFRA committee's damning report get lots of coverage this morning and rightly so.

Ofwat should have to approve water firms’ bonuses and dividends, say MPs

Report says billpayer funds are being used irresponsibly, after news that Thames Water paid bonuses from £3bn loan

theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/business/202... yes, @Ofwat 's magic money tree which apparently makes the water industry worth £106 BILLION. The actual price, close to nothing.

Public ownership of England’s water companies could cost close to zero, says thinktank

Exclusive: Common Wealth report argues debt, pollution and underinvestment justify process known as special administration

theguardian.com