Thames Water collapse: What is Thames Water’s area what does it do in London?

Government ministers and the regulator Ofwat are reported to have started discussions about placing Thames Water into a special administration regime, as it struggles with a £14 billion debt.

Fears for the future of the company have been growing and on Monday the company’s CEO resigned.

Water supply was privatised in England in 1989, but if a special administration regime is brought in, Thames Water will essentially come into public ownership again, albeit temporarily.

Thames Water employs about 7,000 people, and serves nearly a quarter of Britain’s population.

It is a vital part of the capital’s infrastructure, providing services to almost all Londoners. Here’s what it does:

Thames Water sewerage

The company is responsible for sewers, or ‘waste water’ as companies tend to call it, across a large part of the south of England.

Its service area stretches from Dartford in the east to Cirencester and Swindon in the west.

Thames Water supply

Thames Water supplies tap water to much of Greater London.

In the west, Affinity supplies water in areas including Harrow, Northolt, Uxbridge and Feltham.

In east London, Romford and Barking are supplied by Essex and Suffolk Water.

Sutton, Purley and Coulsdon are supplied by Sutton and East Surrey Water.