West Oxfordshire District Council has officially requested that the UK government place Thames Water into a special administration process to move the utility toward non-profit, public ownership. The vote, which took place on 25 March 2026, marks the latest move by local leaders to address widespread concerns over infrastructure failures and environmental damage in the region.
Council leader Cllr Andy Graham stated that the action was necessary because the water company is failing its duties to the community and the environment. The council is calling for the change to ensure that the bills paid by residents are directly invested into improving vital water and sewage infrastructure, rather than serving other financial interests.
The concerns from local authorities are backed by data regarding the company’s performance. In 2024, more than 27,000 hours of raw sewage were discharged from storm overflow tanks in West Oxfordshire, where many treatment works are currently operating beyond their capacity. Additionally, the Environment Agency named Thames Water as England’s worst water supplier in October 2025, and the company has struggled with an estimated debt of £18 billion.
West Oxfordshire joins other local councils, including Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, in formally demanding a change in ownership. Public awareness of these issues has grown recently, bolstered by the Channel 4 documentary drama Dirty Business, which highlighted a decade-long investigation by local residents into pollution in the River Windrush.
Thames Water currently faces significant financial pressure and is involved in negotiations regarding a potential £10 billion rescue plan proposed by lenders, which would involve new debt and equity injections. While the company has argued that government intervention could delay necessary improvements, local councils remain firm in their stance that a shift to public control is the only way to prioritise community needs over private financial recovery.
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