Thames Water CEO Questions Leakage Targets, Cites Unrealistic Expectations

Chris Weston, the chief executive of Thames Water, has publicly questioned the realism of the company's performance targets, particularly those related to water leakage. In comments made on the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast, Weston asserted that some of the targets set for the company are not achievable, regardless of investment levels.

Thames Water, the largest water company in the UK, serves 16 million customers across London and southern England. The company is responsible for treating approximately 4.3 billion liters of wastewater daily, with Weston noting that successful treatment occurs 99.5% of the time, though acknowledging occasional failures.

"We want to do better when it comes to pollutions," Weston said, but he added that the company's expected targets are "not realistic." He specifically cited leakage targets, stating, "it is so far in excess of what we are capable of doing... that it is not going to be achievable."

Weston also suggested that achieving zero pollution events is "very, very slim."

Ofwat, the water services regulation authority, responded to Weston's remarks by stating that companies must meet the commitments they have been funded for, especially with around one-fifth of supplied water still being lost through leakage. "Water company targets are intended to be ambitious and drive better outcomes for customers and the environment," Ofwat told the BBC.

The Environment Agency also commented, with a spokesperson emphasizing that "[we] and the public expect Thames Water to comply with the law." The agency affirmed its commitment to holding companies accountable for performance shortfalls.

Campaign group River Action, represented by chief executive James Wallace, criticized Thames Water's position. Wallace stated that the company's attempts at "opacity and deflection fool no-one." He called it "offensive" to ask the public to save water while the company leaks an estimated 570 million liters of treated drinking water daily. Wallace argued that accepting sewage pollution as inevitable is not a realistic stance and suggested that the current privatized financial model is failing, advocating for Thames Water to be placed into special administration and rebuilt as a public utility.