1st November 2024
Thames Rivers Trust – Briefing Document: Water Companies Performance
1 November 2024
Thames Rivers Trust: Working Together for Clean and Healthy Rivers
The Thames Rivers Trust (TRT) recognises that water companies play a critical role in protecting and improving river health. However, recent behaviour from these companies has fallen short of acceptable standards. Continued pollution incidents, frequent sewage discharges, and a lack of transparency have not only damaged our waterways but have also eroded public trust. Water companies must face up to these responsibilities with urgency and accountability, and TRT is committed to ensuring they do so. While they are essential partners in delivering cleaner rivers, they must demonstrate substantial improvement to regain trust and fulfil their duty to the environment and local communities.
A Collaborative Approach with Accountability
TRT’s position is clear: collaboration with water companies is not only possible but essential for achieving lasting water quality improvements. However, partnership must go hand-in-hand with accountability. For too long, shortfalls in performance have hindered progress toward the clean, thriving rivers our communities deserve. TRT seeks to work with water companies to address these issues transparently, driving both immediate actions and systemic changes. Our role is to act as a bridge, facilitating cooperation and bringing diverse stakeholders together to create meaningful impact.
A Shared Responsibility
Through partnerships, TRT can help water companies enhance their stewardship of river ecosystems. By supporting improved sewage treatment practices, funding for habitat restoration, and community-focused projects, TRT aims to drive progress on pressing issues, such as reducing phosphorus, ammonium, metals, and other pollutants in the Thames catchment. This collective responsibility approach is central to the Trust’s mission. We are committed to helping water companies meet their obligations and promote sustainable practices that keep our rivers safe for generations to come.
Our Call to Action
TRT urges water companies to commit to transparency, rapid response to pollution incidents, and measurable improvements. We call on them to support initiatives that restore river health and protect communities from water quality issues. By working together—with water companies held to high standards—we can address the challenges ahead, including the pressures of climate change, urban growth, and increased river usage. TRT stands ready to collaborate, facilitate, and advocate for cleaner rivers, but we will continue to hold all partners accountable in this shared journey toward healthy waterways.
