Stricken Thames Water is among five water firms given the provisional go-ahead by the industry watchdog to hike bills further as part of plans allowing suppliers to spend an extra £3.4 billion.
Ofwat revealed in a draft determination that five of 13 suppliers across England and Wales are set to be given permission to increase charges for customers to pump in the additional investment by the end of the decade to help upgrade networks to cope with new housing and data centres, and tackle forever chemicals to ensure drinking water is safe and reliable.