Thames Water

Have you been paying too much for your water?

Thames Water and five other water companies accused of underreporting sewage spillages and discharges

A consumer legal claim has been filed against six UK water companies who are accused of underreporting sewage pollution and overcharging customers as a result. 

The claim against Thames Water – the UK’s largest water company – is one of six claims against water companies who are all accused of breaching environmental laws by underreporting the number of sewage spills and discharges into UK waterways. 

Have you been overcharged for your water bill? 

Thames Water services millions of homes across London and Thames Valley. Its customers may be entitled to compensation if they paid for a water bill from April 2017. 

Claims against Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water were filed between December 2023 and May 2024.

Anyone who has paid for a water bill to one or more of these six water companies could be entitled to compensation if the cases are won. 

Thames Water accused of underreporting sewage pollution

Thames Water is accused of not complying with environmental laws and regulators’ reporting responsibilities. This could leave millions of Thames Water customers owed millions, if the case is won.

It is accused of breaking competition law by misleading the Environment Agency and water company regulator Ofwat about the number of untreated sewage spills and discharges they made into rivers, lakes, the sea and other waterways. Water companies are legally required to report these incidents.

The claim against Thames Water

Professor Carolyn Roberts, an environmental and water consultant who is leading the claim on behalf of Thames Water customers, accuses the six water companies of abusing their dominant market position by underreporting the number of times they cause pollution incidents and overcharging customers as a result. She says that the underreporting has led to performance penalties and fines, which would have reduced customers’ bills, not being issued.

Professor Roberts has instructed the law firm Leigh Day to represent her claim against the six water companies. People affected by this claim will not pay any fees or costs. If the case is won, it is expected compensation would be paid by the water company and its shareholders, not by increasing customers’ bills.

How to claim compensation

A decision first needs to be made by the specialist competition court about whether the claim will proceed. Sign up to Consumer Voice to stay updated as the claim progresses if you think you’ve been affected.