In 2022, the infrastructure to cope with additional house building in the South of England, appears to be insufficient to cope with the planning consents that councils are dishing out to property developers, seeking to reach Conservative and now Labour targets for new houses. Presumably as part of their poorly conceived economic growth plan. In a world that is already overheated from global warming.

What is needed is change, as in Nigel Farage and Reform UK. The fastest growing political party in the United Kingdom, where voters are fed up with being lied to.

In 2021 Southern Water were fined £90 million pounds for dumping up to 21 billion litres of untreated sewage over six years into protected seas off England’s southern coast.

It begs the question, should companies that act illegally like this be wound up, their assets returned to the State? Whereas, companies in serious debt, potentially trading fraudulently, should they be wound up, their assets returned to the State? One such water company is Thames Water, said to be some £16 billion pounds in the red. How can such a debt be sustained and sustainable, without overcharging customers for water and sewage treatment?

It sure seems like a case for re-nationalisation of our utilities. Where both water and electricity companies that are privately owned, have consistently failed to invest in the future. Governments have been slow to act to stem the tide of untreated sewage being dumped into rivers, seas and oceans, and the high price of energy to the consumer.

Why have governments been so slow to act? It is alleged, because of procurement fraud, and conflicts of interests, where many MPs and their constituents may have been benefiting from dividends that should never have been authorised by Chief Executives on the make. Presumably, with the top management being awarded bonuses and the like for failure. Instead of being sacked, investigated for corrupt practices and replaced with new management, who might be up to the challenges, with the public interest at the top of their agendas.

For example, no new houses should be built that add to the sewage and fresh water supply burden. There should be water and waste neutrality. Or, don't build any more executive houses, where there is a lack of genuinely affordable units.

So, please leave ours alone : )

THIS IS MONEY & MSN NEWS DECEMBER 2024 - THAMES WATER SLAPPED WITH £18M FINE BY OFWAT FOR DISHING OUT 'UNJUSTIFIED' DIVIDENDS

Thames Water has been handed an £18.2million fine after regulator Ofwat used powers to crack down on firms paying 'unjustified' dividends for the first time. 

The debt riddled utility, which was also given the green light to hike customer bills 35 per cent by 2030, was found to have unjustifiably paid £158.3million to shareholders.

Ofwat tightened rules on water companies' dividend policy in May last year, telling firms to stop the payment of dividends if they are of poor financial health. 

The regulator said Thames Water made interim dividend payouts totalling £37.5million to its holding company, Thames Water Utilities Holdings Limited, in October last year and further payouts of about £158.3million in March 2024. 

The regulator said it will claw back £131.3million of the payments so the money does not come out of customer bills.

David Black, Ofwat's chief executive, said the penalty was 'a clear warning to the whole sector.'

He added: 'We will take action against companies who take money out of these businesses, where performance does not merit it.'

THAMES WATER CUSTOMERS TO SEE BILL HIKES

Under plans revealed by Ofwat on Thursday, the average annual Thames Water bill will rise to £588 by 2030, £152 more than current levels of £436 a year.

Ofwat said the lion’s share of that increase, about £108 of the £152, will come in the 2025-2026 financial year.

The ruling falls short of the 59 per cent Thames Water had said it needed in the run-up to the decision, as the embattled water company tries to negotiate a bailout.

The company, which serves around 16million people in London and the South East, is in the midst of a funding crisis and needs a £3billion loan from creditors to keep operating beyond March.

THAMES WATER'S BAILOUT WOES

Thames Water, which has over £16billion worth of debt, earlier this week held the first of several high court hearings over its proposed £3billion bailout.

The cluster of investment firms that drew up the deal, including BlackRock, Abrdn and M&G, have said they need a sizeable increase in bills to make it happen.

It is unclear whether the 35 per cent bill hike will be deemed enough for the bailout to go through. 

However, Thames Water will have the option to refer Ofwat’s decision to the Competition and Markets Authority.

That would kick off a fresh process which could see consumers wait months more to find out how much they will have to pay over the coming years.

Thames Water said it will tell customers how much more they will pay next year by early February.

The utility firm said that the 'deliverability and investability' of Ofwat’s decision to allow bills to rise was 'critical to the company’s future'. 

It added: 'Given its importance and complexity, Thames Water will take time to review the determination in detail before making its response.

'The company will set out by early February the charges for customers that will apply from April 2025.

'These charges will reflect Ofwat’s final determination, and Thames Water remains committed to supporting those customers who need help with their bills.'

The company said bosses 'remain focused on maintaining the stability of the business' as it seeks a bumper loan bailout from investors.

WE ALL NEED TO DRINK - In some countries there are no groundwater pipes. Water is too valuable. Sometimes more expensive than petroleum. Water tanker keep the human population hydrated. But it is demanding and increases carbon footprints, where diesel is used for transport.

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REGISTERED OFFICES

Company No. 

SEPTEMBER 17 2020 - Shit handling pipes, installation at Shit Creek, Herstmonceux, the field adjacent is to be built on with 70 houses flushing excrement down a network of pipes, but of even more concern is the pollution from the run off of pesticides from 70 gardens and garages, through Lime Pond. In that Southern Water are providing the infrastructure to make that pollution a reality, they may be held to be vicariously liable. If any of the soil pipes from the proposed houses were to leak into the pond, they would be criminally liable for sure, and may be fined, or imprisoned.

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MAY 2020 - Southern Water getting stuck into their newest shit pumping station in Herstmonceux, Sussex. Human feces (or faeces) are the solid or semisolid remains of food that could not be digested or absorbed in the small intestine of humans, but has been rotted down by bacteria in the large intestine. It also contains bacteria and a relatively small amount of metabolic waste products such as bacterially altered bilirubin, and the dead epithelial cells from the lining of the gut. It is discharged through the anus during a process called defecation. 

LINKS & REFERENCE

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/thames-water-slapped-with-18m-fine-by-ofwat-for-dishing-out-unjustified-dividends/ar-AA1w9bbb

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-12244239/UK-water-firms-drowning-65bn-debt.html

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-12244239/UK-water-firms-drowning-65bn-debt.html

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/thames-water-slapped-with-18m-fine-by-ofwat-for-dishing-out-unjustified-dividends/ar-AA1w9bbb