Polluted rivers, collapsing ecosystems and communities left adrift. And now Britain’s water privatisation concept is being exported to Brazil.
The sight of raw sewage pouring into rivers has become disturbingly familiar in Britain. What once caused outrage is now just background noise.
Each year brings new data, new apologies from water companies, and new fines from regulators. Rivers remain polluted, wildlife declines, and communities are left to live with the consequences.
After more than three decades of water privatisation, the pattern is clear. Household bills keep rising, long-term investment has fallen, corporate debt has soared, and environmental damage has become routine. Regulation exists largely on paper, stepping in only after harm has already been done.
