Water privatisation

Private-sector efficiency did not provide better service, but it did allow companies to be milked for cash.

– The Guardian view on water companies: nationalise a flawed private system

water companies have enriched investors and senior executives but failed to adequately invest in infrastructure.

– The Guardian view on water companies: nationalise a flawed private system

Soaring prices and lack of investment in infrastructure.

The move was hailed by [[Margaret Thatcher]] and her ministers as one that would ensure soaring investment in the industry while bringing down consumer prices. In fact, the opposite has occurred.

– [[The Observer view on the woeful state of England's water industry]]

Ownership by foreign investors.

At the same time, a national resource has ended up in the ownership of foreign investors. Hefty chunks of Thames Water have been bought by Chinese, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait finance groups, for example.

– [[The Observer view on the woeful state of England's water industry]]

Thus, something that should be treated as a national resource and a core defence against climate change has been sold off for short-term financial gain.

– [[The Observer view on the woeful state of England's water industry]]

England and Wales are the only countries in the world to have fully privatised their water supplies.

– After this drought, there will be another one: here are 10 things you should …

The evidence suggests that privatisation in England and Wales has led to higher bills, little or no reduction in pollution or waste, and no greater water security.

– After this drought, there will be another one: here are 10 things you should …

Water for households costs more in England and Wales than in most regularly drought-ravaged countries in Europe.

– After this drought, there will be another one: here are 10 things you should …

For the last three decades, water companies have cut investment in upgrading the wastewater and sewage infrastructure by a fifth, despite increasing water bills by 31% in real terms since the 1990s. The basic logic of privatisation – that profits would be reinvested so that the government would not have to pay out of pocket to keep the system running – is not panning out: the companies have paid billions of pounds in dividends to shareholders instead of stopping leaks and sewage dumping

– Friday briefing: Britain’s rivers and oceans are filling with sewage – with n…