Thames Water in turmoil: Union warns government against ignoring financial 'car crash'

Unions person warned astir the authorities of Thames Water (Image: Getty)

The authorities has been warned by a starring national not to disregard the unfolding "car crash," astatine Thames Water. The informing from GMB comes successful the aftermath of a Guardian probe that suggests Britain's largest h2o institution is successful a much dire fiscal authorities than antecedently acknowledged.

Insiders revealed to the paper that Thames has failed to code superior information concerns, upgrade important IT systems and has allowed a civilization of intimidation among staff. It was reported that £23bn of its assets are successful "urgent request of repair," and the h2o proviso to its 16m customers is connected a "knife-edge," Additional sources claimed that the company's IT systems are truthful outdated they person go an casual people for cybercriminals and are "falling apart."

Gary Carter, GMB National Officer, said: "Previous owners person near Thames Water successful a perilous authorities nary 1 volition beryllium amazed by the latest revelations," He added: "Thames needs committed agelong word concern conscionable to support operating, ne'er caput halt the leaks and chopped the sewage spills. Then it indispensable beryllium held to relationship and present for customers, with its skilled workforce cardinal to the turnaround."

Carter further cautioned: "If that concern isn't forthcoming past the authorities indispensable enactment accelerated and enactment Thames into peculiar administration."

He concluded: "Ministers can't beryllium backmost and ticker the car crash.", arsenic reported by City AM.

However, a authorities spokesperson insisted that the institution "remains stable" arsenic ministers intimately show the situation.

Thames Water has refuted claims made successful a Guardian article, asserting that it does not "accurately bespeak Thames Water's operations oregon its culture, wherever the wellbeing and information of our colleagues and customers is ever our highest priority."

The institution emphasised: "We proviso 2.6bn litres of h2o each day, rated among the highest prime of drinking h2o anyplace successful the world, and each our sites run to stringent health, safety, and information standards."

Addressing concerns astir infrastructure, Thames Water acknowledged: "We've been precise unfastened astir the 'asset deficit' we face, and the challenges we volition person gathering aboriginal request if it's not addressed. That's wherefore we person acceptable retired an ambitious program for 2025-2030 which asks for £20.7bn of expenditure and concern with an further £3bn done gated mechanisms, truthful that we tin conscionable our customers' expectations and biology responsibilities."