Revenue of water and sewer utilities in the UK FY 2023

Thames Water was the biggest water company in the United Kingdom in FY 2023, based on revenue of 2.2 billion British pounds. Thames Water is based in Reading, Berkshire, and provides services such as drinking water and wastewater treatment to more than 15 million customers across London and the Thames Valley.

Water companies polluting waterways in the UK

Water and sewage companies across Britain have been facing considerable scrutiny in recent years over their impacts on the environment. Untreated sewage from water companies was ranked as the most negative impact on the water quality of rivers in England and Wales, according to a 2022 survey. Throughout 2023, more than 460,000 occurrences of untreated sewage being released by water companies into rivers and seas in England were recorded. United Utilities and Yorkshire Water combined accounted for over 37 percent of spill events.

Investments into the natural environment

In 2023, water companies in England were handed record amounts in fines for pollution incidents. Historically, these fines would be handed back to the treasury. However, new plans see these funds going to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and will be used to pay for investments in improving the natural environment relating to wastewater in England.