Ofwat warns over financial health of four water suppliers in England

The River Thames in Oxfordshire. There has been growing public anger over sewage spillages and contamination. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock

The water regulator for England and Wales has raised a red flag over the financial health of companies supplying more than 20 million customers in the south-east of England, amid growing public anger over the industry’s record on services and pollution.

Ofwat’s latest report on the financial resilience of the sector again named Thames Water, Southern Water and SES (Sutton and East Surrey) Water as companies that need to take action to shore up their long-term finances.