British company risks billions in fines for polluting the Thames

The amount corresponds to approximately NOK 1.5 billion at today’s exchange rate.

Thames Water is the UK’s largest water company. The company provides water supply and waste water management in large parts of Greater London, Thames Valley, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Wilshire, Kent and certain other areas of the UK.

The River Thames, which runs through London, has been in a poor state for a long time. So have several other rivers in Great Britain. A particularly big problem is that sewage and waste water are often pumped directly into the rivers.

In addition to Thames Water, the company Yorkshire Water risks a fine of £47 million and Northumbrian Water £17 million in fines.

The British Water and Wastewater Authority (Ofwat) says the fines will now be assessed. The companies have not done enough to ensure that waste water does not flow into rivers, according to Ofwat.

– The level of the fines we intend to impose on the companies signals how serious the mistakes are, says Ofwat.

It is not the first time that Thames Water, which is the country’s largest water supplier, has been fined. Last year the company was fined £3.3m for polluting rivers.