How else can I take action?

On Wednesday 4th March we'll be in Environment Secretary Emma Wycombe's constituency, resisting Thames Water's proposal to pollute illegally - for profit - until 2040.

Join us to protest against 14 years of sewage pollution

Can't make it on the day? You can still take action!

• Email Ofwat to say NO to sewage pollution until 2040
• Email your MP to take the pledge for permanent public ownership of Thames Water

This isn't just about Thames Water. This is about every water company - and every household - in England. Thames Water is the first domino in the collapse of privatised water. If Thames Water comes into public ownership, we set a precedent for every other water company to follow.

The government must take Thames Water into special administration and KEEP it in public ownership. This means copying the model of Railtrack becoming publicly owned Network Rail NOT the model of Bulb being temporarily nationalised then returned to the private sector.

Thames Water is collapsing because it has racked up approximately £20 billion of debt. In 1989 it started out with zero debt. The company has paid out £7.2 billion in dividends and in 2022 paid out £37 million of “internal dividends” to its parent company.

The largest stake in Thames Water is owned by a Canadian pension fund. Other shareholders include companies owned by the governments of Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and China.

The government's priority should be protecting the public and our natural environment from the mess caused by these financial institutions.

Regulation is no solution - there is a revolving door between Ofwat and the water companies. Cathryn Ross, the interim co-CEO of Thames Water previously worked at Ofwat.

Publicly owned Scottish Water has spent £72 more per household per year (35% more) than the English water companies. If England had invested at this rate, an extra £28 billion would have gone into the infrastructure to tackle problems like leaks and sewage.

The English model of privatisation is not normal - 90% of the world runs water in public ownership. Water is a natural monopoly, there is no market for consumers. We need to build on examples of best practice from Scotland and Paris.

Under public ownership, households, workers and environmental groups should have a say on the Board of water companies.