Sky's Paul Kelso writes that Chris Weston's argument will not receive much sympathy given its past practice that saw investor returns prioritised over investment.
Eliminating all pollution incidents in the Thames Water network will be 'almost impossible' and a public debate is needed about the real cost of ending all sewage outflows, chief executive Chris Weston has said. Speaking as the company's interim results revealed pollution incidents were up 40%, Mr Weston said 'rising expectations' from customers about water quality and pollution were unlikely to be fully addressed in the next five years.
Mr Weston's message on pollution will be hard to stomach too, but it reflects the reality of underinvestment in an ageing system that's increasingly overwhelmed. Public anger about sewage outflows - where effluent is deliberately discharged from overflowing sewers into rivers as a failsafe to avoid it backing up into homes - has increased both political pressure and the cost of borrowing for water companies. Whatever Ofwat allows, Mr Weston said even the £23.
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