UK's top water supplier hit with record pollution fine

Britain’s biggest water supplier, Thames Water, was hit yesterday with a record fine of £122.7 million ($165 million) over pollution and improper dividend payments, a regulator said.

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UK water watchdog Ofwat said an investigation into “how the company was managing its treatment works and wider wastewater network uncovered failings that have amounted to a significant breach of the company’s legal obligations”.

The penalty is the latest blow to Thames Water, laden with billions of pounds of debt, as it searches for the necessary funding to stave off a costly public bailout.

Ofwat said the investigation into Thames Water's network revealed frequent spills of sewage, the true scale of which was likely “much higher than reported”.