Yet another burst main... major leak on Lordship Lane nr junction with Barry Rd

[Sue]

7 hours ago, Pugwash said:

Blame Margaret Thatcher - she started the privatization of public utilities.

But Thatcher is dead.

Nobody since has brought the utilities back under public ownership (if that's the right term).

So there are many people who could be blamed. Meanwhile the shareholders get richer and everyone else gets increasing bills and a poorer service.

Plus as said above, a massive waste of a limited resource like water.

Not to mention the polluted rivers and seas.

At least the privatisation of the railways is being reversed. Hopefully water may be on the list somewhere.

Edited July 8 by Sue

[Hen123]

I was talking to my brother in the law last weekend who works for a different water company. He said he and his colleagues watch TW’s woes with a mixed of horror, disbelief and then relief that they work for a different water company. Worth a watch. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00284vt

[ianr]

Does it deal at all with the question of the anticipated per capita future costs of necessary repairs to or upgrading of the ?still largely old underground piping across their area, and how that compares with future risks existing in other areas?  I wonder too whether the latest apparent concentrated spate of leaks is attributable at all to the heat.

TW say that they have not made any dividend payments to external shareholders (among them a Candian teachers pension fund) since 2017.    There have been like payments, though, to their holding companies (?Kemble, and Thames ?something), reportedly I think to service debts to them.

Thames Water annual company reports are available online.  Ofwat have also published about leakage.

Edited July 8 by ianr

[Underhook]

22 minutes ago, ianr said:

Does it deal at all with the question of the anticipated per capita future costs of necessary repairs to or upgrading of the ?still largely old underground piping across their area, and how that compares with future risks existing in other areas?  I wonder too whether the latest apparent concentrated spate of leaks is attributable at all to the heat.

TW say that they have not made any dividend payments to external shareholders (among them a Candian teachers pension fund) since 2017.    There have been like payments, though, to their holding companies (?Kemble, and Thames ?something), reportedly Ithink to service debts to them.

Thames Water annual company reports are available online.  Ofwat have also published about leakage.

You raise a good point here regarding heat/climate. The recent dry spell has caused the ground to dry up and move. Just as this movement causes cracks in the walls of people’s homes, it also causes water pipes underground to fracture, hence the recent uptick in reported leaks and the heightened workload for TW

[jazzer]

yawn, not helpful moaning repeatedly about spilt milk 

[Sue]

1 hour ago, jazzer said:

yawn, not helpful moaning repeatedly about spilt milk 

What would be helpful, Jazzer, do you think?

[jazzer]

You made a good point earlier about Thatcher being dead, its the fall back that others use of Oh lets blame Thatcher, that becomes tediously boring, hence yawn

[Sue]

9 hours ago, jazzer said:

You made a good point earlier about Thatcher being dead, its the fall back that others use of Oh lets blame Thatcher, that becomes tediously boring, hence yawn

Fair enough. I misunderstood your post.