Petition to bring Thames Water into public ownership

Thames Water remains at the centre of a major environmental controversy following revelations of increased sewage discharges into rivers and waterways across southern England.

The issue has intensified public concern over pollution, infrastructure management, and the financial practices of the UK's largest water company.

In March 2025, company data revealed that untreated sewage was discharged into waterways for nearly 300,000 hours during 2024, representing an increase of approximately 50 per cent compared with the previous year.

Environmental groups warned that the releases threatened wildlife, damaged river ecosystems, and affected recreational water users.

Regulators responded with a series of investigations into Thames Water's wastewater operations.

There are calls for Thames Water to be put into public hands (Image: Thames Water)

In May 2025, Ofwat imposed a record £104.5 million penalty for failures in managing sewage infrastructure, alongside an additional £18.2 million fine linked to dividend payments. The combined penalties totalled about £123 million.

Critics argue that years of under investment and ageing infrastructure contributed to the pollution incidents, while the company accumulated significant debt and continued making payments to investors.

Rising customer bills have further fuelled public anger.

Thames Water has acknowledged the need for major improvements and says it is investing in upgrades to reduce future sewage discharges. However, regulatory investigations and environmental concerns continue into 2026.

The petition, which sits at more than 100,000 signatures, aims to gather 200,000 signatures from those affected.

The campaign, launched on the online petition platform 38 Degrees, is asking Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds to bring Thames Water public ownership.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emma Reynolds (Image: Peter Byrne)

The petition reads: "Thames Water could be let off the hook again.

"Right now, a deal is being discussed that could allow the company to avoid new fines for years, even after sewage spills, leaks and repeated failures.

"We’ve seen this pattern before: deals made behind closed doors, promises of improvement, but no real accountability.

"Meanwhile, the company is drowning in debt and on the brink of collapse, and customers are being hit with rising bills.

"If this deal goes ahead, it sets a dangerous precedent: that failing water companies can continue dumping sewage and avoid the consequences.

"Enough is enough.

"The Government has the power to step in, but keeps delaying. That’s why we’re calling on the Environment Secretary to bring Thames Water into public ownership now, to protect the public, clean up our waterways, and deliver real, lasting change."

Thames Water is a private company owned by Kemble Water Holdings Limited, which is controlled by a group of institutional investors, including pension funds and sovereign wealth funds.