Britain's biggest water company has failed to adequately tackle serious safety concerns, not upgraded essential IT systems and tolerated a culture of intimidation among staff, according to company insiders and an analysis of documents. The investigation suggests the company is in a worse financial state than previously admitted, and neither its managers nor regulators appear to have grasped the perilous state of some of its reservoirs and pipes.
The Guardian has also discovered that key data is still managed on obsolete software that dates to 1989. Sources claimed the company had been subject to cyber-attacks from groups affiliated with hostile states, including Russia.
A spokesperson for Thames Water said: "The wellbeing and safety of our colleagues and customers is our highest priority."
Regarding cyber-attacks, Thames declined to comment on the record, but a source at the company said it had "not experienced any cyber-attacks full stop".
The Guardian has spent several months investigating the finances and culture of Britain's biggest water company as it struggles for survival.
Sources described how concerns about Thames's governance and operations have been raised at the highest levels of management. Yet they claimed the issues had not been tackled, suggesting the scale of the turnaround required at Thames may have been underestimated.
"Operations have been hollowed out and cut to the bone," one senior source at Thames said. "We're putting the public at risk by failing to invest in the most basic needs."
They added that, in their view, management had not moved quickly enough to address problems such as weakening explosive infrastructure - including containers holding the gas produced by sewage and cracks in reservoirs.
They said Thames's management and the regulator, Ofwat, had both been slow to address these issues, allowing them to escalate.
This story is from the November 18, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 18, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Explained What is the Kumbh Mela holy gathering?
What is the Kumbh Mela? The Kumbh Mela is the world's largest religious gathering, widely seen as the \"festival of festivals\" in the Hindu religious calendar.
Electric cars Ministers mull guarantee on loans for EVS
The government is reportedly considering subsidising purchases of electric vehicles by guaranteeing consumer loans, as it looks at ways to boost sales that are failing to reach official targets.
Abramovich may owe HMRC £1bn for unpaid taxes, analysis suggests
The billionaire Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich may owe the HMRC in Britain as much as £1bn, according to analysis of documents that suggests his companies failed to pay tax on profits from an elaborate offshore investment scheme.
Police blamed as crush kills dozens of pilgrims at Hindu festival in India
At least 30 people have been killed and scores injured in crowd crushes at the Kumbh Mela festival, Indian police have confirmed, as vast numbers of people went to bathe at one of the holiest sites of the Hindu gathering.
Car production in UK slides to lowest level for seven decades
British car production fell to its lowest level in seven decades in 2024, barring the coronavirus pandemic, as the industry struggles with weak demand and prepares to shift away from fossil fuels to electric vehicles.
Stage review A spine-chilling wheeze that's destined to linger
Inside No 9: Stage/Fright Wyndham's theatre, London
Syria Rebel leader Sharaa appointed transitional president
The former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist rebel group that led the military operation to topple the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad last month, has been appointed president of the country for a \"transitional period\".
Coraline musical cancelled after allegations against Neil Gaiman
A stage version of Neil Gaiman's Coraline was cancelled yesterday after allegations of sexual misconduct against the author.
Water bills to increase by average of £123 from April
Water bills will rise by an average of £123 this year in the biggest hit to customer pockets since the industry was privatised 36 years ago, as the public pays to replace ageing infrastructure and cut record sewage pollution.
NHS to offer thousands with severe dust mite allergy daily pill
Thousands of people in England with severe dust mite allergy are to be offered a first-of-its-kind daily pill on the NHS to treat the condition.
