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Kate Bayliss, Research Associate, Department of Economics, SOAS, University of London

How Thames Water came to be flooded with debt – and what it means for taxpayers

Filipchuk Maksym/Shutterstock

Thames Water is reportedly on the brink of collapse. The UK’s largest water company, well known for its high levels of water leakage, sewage spills, executive pay and dividend payments, now appears to be flooded with debts that it cannot afford to pay.

Those debts have reached more than £14 billion, leading to fears the government – or UK taxpayers to be precise – may have to bail the company out.

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