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Ofwat investigation into Thames Water admission over delays to water works

Date:
11 February 2025

Relevant legislation/regulation:
Section 18 of the Water Industry Act 1991

Jurisdiction:
United Kingdom

Status:
Ongoing

Regulator/enforcement authority:
Ofwat

ESG Category:
Environmental

Defendant(s)/subjects(s):
Thames Water

Key Facts:

In February 2025, Ofwat opened an enforcement case into Thames Water, investigating whether Thames Waters’ delayed delivery of environmental improvement schemes was a breach of its legal obligations.

The Water Industry National Environmental Programme (WINEP) is a programme of actions water companies are required to take to meet their environmental obligations. Thames Water had committed to deliver 812 environmental improvement schemes in line with WINEP obligations, between 2020 and 2025. In opening the enforcement case, Ofwat stated that Thames Water had informed the regulator that it would be unlikely to deliver more than 100 of these on time.

Ofwat senior director noted that “customers have paid for Thames Water to carry out these essential environmental schemes”, and “we take any indication that water companies are not meeting their obligations very seriously.” In admitting these failures, Thames Water has said it would “co-operate fully” with the regulator’s investigation.

Sources:

Ofwat press release and BBC article