Water to be cut to a trickle if you fail to pay bill

Thames Water is under fire over plans to increase bills for all customers and cut supplies to those falling behind with payments.

The country’s biggest water supplier – which announced record £613.5million profits yesterday – wants restrictions on flow to force people to pay up.

The measure would make it impossible to have a bath or shower, or even filling a kettle. The idea is being suggested by Thames’s Australian owners.



The group’s director Richard Aylard said: “It would be an absolute last resort when everything else failed, and in each case we would need to get a court order, so people could make their case.” It says non-payers cost all other customers an average of £11 a year.

But the Consumer Council for Water chairman David Bland said: “Trickle flow meters are not a good idea. Water companies could use them instead of chasing up money they are owed and there is potential for health issues if people don’t get the water they need.

“Water companies need to make profits but they should share them with consumers, not just shareholders.”