Thames Water makes £485 million-plus profit despite dumping sewage in the River Wey 

Thames Water made over £485 million last year.

Lib Dems demand 'Sewage Tax' to clean up rivers including the River Wey.

New analysis by the Lib Dems has revealed Britain's nine water companies made a total £2.8 billion in combined operating profits last year.

Thames Water, which dumps sewage in the River Wey, made an operating profit of £488.8 million last year. As a result of sewage dumping the River Wey is one of the worst 23% of rivers in terms of ecological and overall river health according to the Rivers Trust.

Water companies making billions in profit were responsible for nearly 400,000 sewage dumping events in 2020 alone, according to the Environment Agency.

Which is why the Lib Dems are demanding a 'Sewage Tax' of 16% on water companies to create an emergency fund for cleaning up rivers.

Lib Dem Spokesperson for Woking, Councillor Will Forster, said:

"It is disgraceful to see water companies making such enormous profits while continuing to get away with polluting our local rivers with sewage. We know that through 2019 and 2020 sewage flow into our rivers locally amounted to 2880 hours - who knows what it will be in 2021."

"This Conservative Government is just letting Thames Water and other water companies, get away with it. The Government is taking us for granted and doing nothing to protect our local rivers. It has to stop and water companies must pay to clear up the mess they are making."

Leader of the Lib Dems, Ed Davey MP, added:

"Given their poor record on sewage the water industry's staggering profit numbers will alarm millions of people who care about our environment."

"A big chunk of these profits should have been reinvested to protect Britain's streams and rivers instead of letting disgusting sewage dumps continue. The whole thing stinks."

"Our precious rivers, beaches and chalk streams are under threat from these sewage offences. Tory Ministers are sitting on their hands and just letting water companies get away with it."

"It is time to act. The water companies should pay to clean up their mess and Ministers should pass the laws to make it happen."