The water torture goes on at Thames. Sector-wide reform isn’t moving much faster | Nils Pratley 15 October 2026 at 14:00

The water torture goes on at Thames. Sector-wide reform isn’t moving much faster | Nils Pratley

15 October 2026 at 14:00

If ‘public control’ bit is delaying overhaul, that needs to be nailed down sharpish or continued uncertainty could be costly

It is strange now to recall that Thames Water had a prominent slot on what was known as “Sue’s shit list” – the internal Labour dossier, compiled by Keir Starmer’s first chief of staff, Sue Gray, of potential crises that could erupt at short notice and force the incoming administration to make some big decisions quickly.

That was July 2024. Here we are – more than two years later – and the Thames script has barely advanced. We’re still waiting to see if the financial crisis at the over-indebted, under-performing water company will be resolved by a creditor-led recapitalisation, special administration or something else.

Thames Water asks for £2.4bn more to avoid going bust this year or early 2027 15 October 2026 at 13:14

Thames Water asks for £2.4bn more to avoid going bust this year or early 2027

The Guardian

By: Jasper Jolly

15 October 2026 at 13:14

Water company tells creditors it will not survive long enough to agree refinancing deal without more money

Thames Water has asked its creditors for another £2.4bn as the embattled water company comes close to running out of cash.

The UK’s largest water company said on Thursday it needed another short-term cash injection because it would be unable to reach a longer-term deal to sort out its giant debt pile before running out of cash by “the end of 2026 or the start of 2027”.

Severe drought declared in six areas of England as reservoirs run low 15 October 2026 at 08:18

Severe drought declared in six areas of England as reservoirs run low

The Guardian

By: Sandra Laville

15 October 2026 at 08:18

Some reservoirs in south at critical levels as water companies call for extended restrictions that would affect golf clubs, private schools and car washes

A severe drought has been declared in six areas of England, with some reservoirs at critically low levels, threatening public supplies.

Parts of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex have moved into severe drought, and urgent measures are being taken to secure public supplies of water after the UK experienced its hottest summer on record.

Businesses could be barred from non-essential water use amid supply threat 14 October 2026 at 02:00

Businesses could be barred from non-essential water use amid supply threat

The Guardian

By: Sandra Laville

14 October 2026 at 02:00

Golf clubs, private schools and car washes may face tighter rules from water companies as England’s drought continues

Three water companies are seeking to impose severe restrictions on businesses as the drought continues across most of England, putting rivers and wildlife under huge pressure.

Golf clubs and private schools could be barred from using mains water to irrigate playing fields and courses, and commercial car washes stopped from operating, under “non-essential use bans” being sought by the companies.

"It's a cat!" 13 October 2026 at 10:22

"It's a cat!"

MetaFilter

By: brachiopod

13 October 2026 at 10:22

EV Nautilus captures cute, laser chasing behaviour of a deep sea octopus.

Rapid showers and no flushing toilets: drought pushes Lundy island to the brink 11 October 2026 at 08:00

Rapid showers and no flushing toilets: drought pushes Lundy island to the brink

The Guardian

By: Steven Morris

11 October 2026 at 08:00

A dry summer has left the Bristol Channel island critically short of water, forcing visitor caps and talk of evacuating its 28 residents

Tom Carr was peering up at the clouds scudding around the island of Lundy, 10 miles off the coast of north Devon. “That one’s definitely got rain in it,” he said. “The mainland will be wet at the moment. And look over at Wales – it’s getting a real soaking just now.”

But above Lundy the sky was, stubbornly, blue. No significant rain has fallen here since the start of May, leading to perilously low water levels. Restrictions have been put in place, visitor numbers limited and there has been talk of the island – home to 28 people – being evacuated.

Revealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companies 9 October 2026 at 01:00

Revealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companies

The Guardian

By: Rachel Salvidge

9 October 2026 at 01:00

Exclusive: Firms made more than £340m last year from processing industrial and commercial wastewater at sewage works that are unable to remove many chemical pollutants

Water companies in the UK made more than £340m in revenue last year by pouring billions of litres of industrial and commercial wastewater into sewage treatment works that experts say are not designed to remove most chemicals, leaving pollutants to pass into rivers, seas and farmland.

Water companies in England are required by law to take industrial wastewater and issue permits called “trade-effluent consents” that allow businesses to send it to sewage works, though water companies can refuse applications.

Stockpile food – and wash your hands: is that really how to prepare for environmental catastrophe? | George Monbiot 8 October 2026 at 01:00

Stockpile food – and wash your hands: is that really how to prepare for environmental catastrophe? | George Monbiot

The Guardian

By: George Monbiot

8 October 2026 at 01:00

The UK state is dumping its responsibilities on our doorsteps, while green-lighting policies that lead us closer to crisis

Would you mind fixing the NHS? And while you’re at it, could you please build an anti-missile system in your garden? Then regulate the banks, replace the water mains, tax the very rich and use the proceeds to rebuild our schools. Well, come on people: what are you waiting for?

I exaggerate, but this isn’t very far from the approach taken by the government’s Prepare campaign. Crucial functions, way beyond the scope of individual action, are dumped on our doorsteps while those in power fail to act. As a result, our national resilience is arguably lower than at any time since the second world war. At the Labour conference last week, Andy Burnham promised “a Britain where people feel the country has got their back again”. To make good on that pledge, he will have to change almost everything.

George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist

South West Water owner taps investors to fix infrastructure after sewage spills 7 October 2026 at 10:14

South West Water owner taps investors to fix infrastructure after sewage spills

The Guardian

By: Joanna Partridge

7 October 2026 at 10:14

Pennon slashes dividend and launches £550m cash call ‘to drive improved outcomes for customers and communities’

Burnham, take note: water shareholders have their uses

The owner of embattled South West Water has slashed its dividend and launched a cash call to investors as it attempts to fund infrastructure investment, days after it was hit by a record £7.9m fine for hundreds of sewage spills.

London-listed Pennon said on Wednesday it would tap investors for £550m, as part of a £1bn investment “to drive improved outcomes for customers and communities”.