OFWAT Way Off in Thames Water Judgement

17.07.06

Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has slammed Ofwat for allowing Thames Water to escape a £140 million fine for missing their leakage reduction target.

Thames Water, which serves most of London and some parts of Kent and Surrey, is losing an average of 894 million litres every single day through leaks. This is the third year running the Company has missed its leakage reduction targets.

Edward Davey MP said

“What is the point of a water regulator who allows companies to flagrantly break simple rules year after year?

“If Thames Water cannot provide people with this basic right then they need to be penalised. It really is that simple.

“I have already raised this with the Chairman of Ofwat and I will be calling on him to give me a full and frank response.

“This is unacceptable. It is bad for the environment, bad for the economy and appalling for people all over Kingston and the South East.

“Ofwat is playing patsy again. Thames Water has pushed the water rate through the roof while its service has gone through the floor. It deserves a firm whack to its profits as well as a mandatory rise in investment.”