Fatcat water firm bosses are accused of fleecing households with eye-watering bill hikes to subsidise the broken industry
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Fat cat water bosses were last night accused of fleecing households with eye-watering bill hikes to subsidise the broken industry – as they enjoyed bumper bonuses for failure. Watchdog Ofwat sparked fury after allowing them to hammer homeowners with increases as high as 53 per cent over the next five years. It means the average householder will see a jump in their bills of around £86 next year, rising higher to adjust for inflation – currently 2.6 per cent.
![[Aerial view of discharge flowing into the River Thames at Crossness sewage treatment works]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/20/93332109-14211529-image-a-5_1734641156631.jpg)
Ofwat claimed the extra cash will fund investment in stopping sewage pollution in waterways. Incredibly, water companies implied the public would welcome paying them more to help fix the creaking sewage system they are supposed to maintain. Their trade body Water UK said: ‘After a decade of cuts Ofwat has finally listened to public anger and agreed a much-needed quadrupling of investment in our ageing infrastructure.’.
![[The water watchdog Ofwat sparked fury after caving in to demands to hammer homeowners with increases as high as 53 per cent over the next five years]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/20/93332119-14211529-image-a-6_1734641159743.jpg)
But critics slammed the statement as ‘blind or wilfully ignorant’ while warning many people would be left struggling with the soaring costs. Singer turned water campaigner Feargal Sharkey said yesterday: ‘Ofwat is making us pay for decades of criminal activity. Mark this day, for it is the day you became angry.’.
![[Ofwat yesterday revealed water bills will rise by an average of 36 per cent over the next five years. Pictured: An overflow pipe releases water into the River Thames]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/20/92992137-14211529-Between_2021_and_2023_alone_water_companies_paid_2_5billion_in_d-a-7_1734641623253.jpg)
Singer turned water campaigner Feargal Sharkey said that Ofwat is making people pay 'for decades of criminal activity'. Aerial view of discharge flowing into the River Thames at Crossness sewage treatment works. The water watchdog Ofwat sparked fury after caving in to demands to hammer homeowners with increases as high as 53 per cent over the next five years.
![[Thames Water was hit with an £18 million fine yesterday for paying out dividends that Ofwat said were not justified by its performance]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/20/92992117-14211529-Thames_Water_will_get_particular_attention_as_the_company_is_in_-a-8_1734641626496.jpg)
