Water firms’ debts since privatisation hit £54bn as Ofwat refuses to impose limits

Customers pay on average 20% of their bill towards servicing debt and rewarding shareholders, says CMA

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Ofwat is refusing to limit the soaring debts run up by water companies as research reveals the firms have outstanding borrowing of almost 54bn accrued since privatisation.

Customers are paying on average 80 or 20% of their water bill towards servicing debt and rewarding shareholders, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).