Cryptosporidium - is anyone having to boil their water?

Quentin Letts was on breakfast tv this morning joking about it.

Oh groan 😀

But 🤞 we can hope.

Something is going to give I think. This was yesterday’s news.
www.reuters.com/world/uk/thames-water-investors-quit-board-after-bailout-fails-sky-news-says-2024-05-15/
I don’t know about the finances of South West Water, but Thames Water is going to be back in public ownership before much more water passes under the bridge (sorry).

Wait and see - it won’t happen.

Germanshepherdsmum

Hinting strongly is not the same as getting legislation through parliament. You may believe that Labour has a magic wand - I don’t. You need to think through exactly what would be involved in giving Ofwat the powers you talk of, and the financial consequences of exercising such powers. ‘Stronger powers’ does not equal the power to remove a private sector employee from office.

What worries me far more is the fact that the water companies have an absolute monopoly and have failed abysmally to renew and repair the infrastructure, instead choosing to pay out enormous amounts to the directors and shareholders to such an extent it has left some of them on the brink of bankruptcy which the taxpayers have been forced to bail out.

On top of which the taxpayers has paid out untold millions cleaning the beaches and rivers and restocking, only to have the fresh stock killed by the failure to stop pouring sewerage day after day into the rivers.

It is scandalous and wrong.

With regard to Labour’s policy - legislation will be far easier than you are suggesting. You talk of unacceptable levels of power - but what of the power wielded by the water companies whose monopoly has existed without hindrance, to do so much damage to our environment and get very wealthy whilst doing so?

Shinamae

This…

Will wait to see if it does load 🤔

This…

Hinting strongly is not the same as getting legislation through parliament. You may believe that Labour has a magic wand - I don’t. You need to think through exactly what would be involved in giving Ofwat the powers you talk of, and the financial consequences of exercising such powers. ‘Stronger powers’ does not equal the power to remove a private sector employee from office.

gsm I think that you are wrong in the assumption that they will not be given those powers. Labour has hinted very strongly that it agrees with the committee’s recommendations and in its latest statement Labour has committed to garnering much stronger powers in its dealings with the water companies.

Investigation of outbreaks show that most occur as a result of poor water treatment, a much smaller level occurs through another form of infection.

Germanshepherdsmum

The fact is, wwm, Ofwat has not been given the powers you mention. And nor are they likely to be.

Funny isn’t it, but Labour have been in power since the water industry was privatised in 1989 but still it remains privatised. Nobody mentions that.

Nobody mentions that that statement only applies to England either, do they?

chlorine water treatment will not kill cryptosporidium. The only way is personal hygiene ie hand washing. It is commonly spread via animals eg petting zoos

How did it get into the water in the first place? could be simply from infected people swimming or using local streams as toilets

It takes two to tango, the public have a duty of care too

How many children are sent to school while still shedding the crypro spores?

Don’t drink the water and brush your teeth using bottled water. How many times have we been told that on certain trips abroad? Who thought we would be thinking that about this country? How standards have dropped, and the top executives seriously overpaid.

As far as I can remember GSM, the problems with the water industry have been over the past 10 or so years, ie as a result of the lack of investment. I agree that the previous Labour administration did not make changes, but certainly hope that the incoming (fingers crossed) Labour government do so. Your faith in the Conservatives is unfailing, but surely, even you must agree that this situation cannot be allowed to continue unchecked?

The fact is, wwm, Ofwat has not been given the powers you mention. And nor are they likely to be.

Funny isn’t it, but Labour have been in power since the water industry was privatised in 1989 but still it remains privatised. Nobody mentions that.

Germanshepherdsmum

We don’t yet know how the problem has arisen.

That won’t stop anyone having an opinion GSM.

The government could actually enforce the regulations, or tighten them up, not sit on their hands and not just say it's a private company - so basically can do what they want. The management should be sacked, fined, jailed, whatever.

Whitewavemark2

In the normal supplier/customer relationship, if I am displeased at the service that I am receiving, or the way a particular company is conducting its business, I avoid that supplier, but this is not a normal relationship.

It is pure monopoly and we are all being exploited.

Exactly. Whilst I can understand, but not necessarily agree with, the privatisation of the energy sector which gives us choice of supplier, and the traditional customer/supplier relationship, this does not apply with the water companies. I have no choice of provider, cannot take my business elsewhere with water and sewage. The privatisation of water and sewerage provision should never have been permitted, and as we are all seeing now, the only beneficiaries are the companies and their shareholders.

Here is a FACT

England is one of a very, very few countries in the world that has an entirely privatised water supply sector.

I am in the south-west and I’m totally appalled at Southwest water. I have not paid my sewage charge for months. I just pay for the water I use,…if they want to take me to court so be it..

Germanshepherdsmum

No government minister has power to sack someone employed in the private sector. Fact.

Wrong.

Recommendation by regulation s committee.

“give Ofwat powers to prevent directors of companies that are responsible for serious pollution incidents from continuing to work in the sector, providing individual accountability.”

No government minister has power to sack someone employed in the private sector. Fact.

Germanshepherdsmum

How does a government minister sack an executive in the private sector petra?

Use your imagination! The government has bailed more than one water company out as a result of overpaying themselves and their shareholders. It is a disgrace.

How does a government minister sack an executive in the private sector petra?

People often say theres nothing the government can do
Yes there is. You grow a pair.
Call their uk representatives into the office and telll them to clear their desks.
Their answer will surely be you can’t do that
Yes I can and and I just did: Sue me.
That’s all we need, someone with a pair of balls.
Anyone got a better idea because the present system is just taking the piss ( no pun intended)