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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Helena Horton Environment reporter

Remainder of year’s water bills will pay dividends and service debts, say campaigners

A sign from Thames Water while repair work takes place on a residential street
Water companies have paid £78bn in dividends since they were privatised in 1989. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Tuesday is the day water bills will start servicing debt and paying shareholders rather than fixing leaks and ending the sewage scandal, campaigners have said, dubbing it “cost of water privatisation day”.

The public services campaign group We Own It has shared analysis from the University of Greenwich that reveals roughly 31% of money collected from water bills goes towards shareholders and paying off debts. Last financial year, an average of 11% of revenue was spent on dividends and 20% went towards servicing debts, while as of 10 September 31% of 2024 remains.

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