Agenda item
Motion D - Bring Thames Water back into public ownership Proposed by Councillor Early, Seconded by Councillor Arciszewska
This Council notes:
· The Recent Channel 4 docudrama ‘Dirty Business’ was shown in February 2026 and featured pollution of rivers in West Oxfordshire.
· The River Windrush was polluted by sewage discharges from Burford Sewage Treatment Works (STW) for a total discharge duration of 338hours in 2024, which equates to around 14 days. (Estimates based on Thames Water data, https://top-of-the-poops.org/waterway/thames-water/river-windrush; accessed 16 March 2026).
· Five STWs in the Evenlode catchment each discharged untreated sewage for over 2000 hours in 2024, which equates to more than 83 days. Data from Thames Water STW ‘Event Duration Monitors (https://earthwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Water-Quality-in-the-Evenlode-Catchment-2024.pdf; accessed 16 March 2026).
· During a cross-party EFRA Committee hearing in September 2025, Emma Hardy (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)) clarified the high threshold for special administration, stating: "If it comes to special administration... it’s if a company can’t perform its basic duty, so if your water doesn't come out your taps and your sewage isn't being taken away". Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Tuesday 9 September 2025.
· There was a serious interruption to water supply in the OX7 and OX29 postcodes due to a burst water main in March 2026 that caused severe water supply interruptions (low pressure or no water) for thousands of residents and businesses in Oxfordshire. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6qp0146ggo; accessed 16 March 2026).
This Council further notes:
· Raw sewage contains dangerous pathogens, including E. coli, hepatitis A, and parasites, which pose severe risks through direct contact or ingestion. Exposure causes gastrointestinal infections (vomiting, diarrhoea), skin/eye/ear infections, and respiratory issues. It is a major cause of waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery.
· Thames Water are responsible for 72 billion litres of sewage discharged into rivers since 2020, with 2024 data indicating a 50% increase in raw effluent dumped.
· Thames Water have paid out £7.2bn to shareholders since 1989, including £158.3m in 2024.
This Council believes:
· Thames Water should be brought into special administration and then back into public ownership.
This Council resolves:
· To request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Prime Minister calling for Thames water to be brought into public ownership.
· To request that the letter to the Prime Minister also asks that in the meantime no dividends should be made to Thames Water Shareholders, nor bonuses to Thames Water Management until all rivers in the region meet all clean water standards.
· To request that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regularly invites Thames Water to report on how much raw sewage has been pumped into West Oxfordshire rivers and the progress towards preventing this.
Minutes:
Councillor Genny Early introduced the motion, and explained she was altering her own motion. The motion, as altered read as;
“This Council notes:
- The Recent Channel 4 docudrama ‘Dirty Business’ was shown in February 2026 and featured pollution of rivers in West Oxfordshire. The River Windrush was polluted by sewage discharges from Burford Sewage Treatment Works (STW) for a total discharge duration of 338 hours in 2024, which equates to around 14 days. (Estimates based on Thames Water data, https://top-of-thepoops.org/waterway/thames-water/river-windrush; accessed 16 March 2026).
- Five STWs in the Evenlode catchment each discharged untreated sewage for over 2000 hours in 2024, which equates to more than 83 days. Data from Thames Water STW ‘Event Duration Monitors (https://earthwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Water-Qualityin-the-Evenlode-Catchment-2024.pdf; accessed 16 March 2026).
- During a cross-party EFRA Committee hearing in September 2025, Emma Hardy (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water and Flooding in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)) clarified the high threshold for special administration, stating: "If it comes to special administration... it’s if a company can’t perform its basic duty, so if your water doesn't come out your taps and your sewage isn't being taken away". Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee,
- There was a serious interruption to water supply in the OX7 and OX29 postcodes due to a burst water main in March 2026 that caused severe water supply interruptions (low pressure or no water) for thousands of residents and businesses in Oxfordshire. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq6qp0146ggo; accessed 16 March 2026).
This Council further notes:
- Raw sewage contains dangerous pathogens, including E. coli, hepatitis A, and parasites, which pose severe risks through direct contact or ingestion. Exposure causes gastrointestinal infections (vomiting, diarrhoea), skin/eye/ear infections, and respiratory issues. It is a major cause of waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery.
- Thames Water are responsible for 72 billion litres of sewage discharged into rivers since 2020, with 2024 data indicating a 50% increase in raw effluent dumped.
- Thames Water have paid out £7.2bn to shareholders since 1989, including £158.3m in 2024. This Council believes:
- That the next step is to bring Thames Water should be brought into a special administration regime (SAR) and then back into some form of non-profit, public ownership. This Council resolves:
- To request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Prime Minister calling for Thames water to be brought into public ownership. Page 15
- To request that the letter to the Prime Minister also asks that in the meantime no dividends should be made to Thames Water Shareholders, nor bonuses to Thames Water Management until all rivers in the region meet all clean water standards.
- To request that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regularly invites Thames Water to report on a quarterly basis to WODC on how much raw sewage has been pumped into West Oxfordshire rivers and the progress towards preventing this.”
Councillor Lidia Arciszewska seconded the motion, as altered.
Members debated the motion, raising the following points;
- Serious and longstanding sewage pollution across West Oxfordshire’s rivers and communities was highlighted, with untreated discharges, flooding incidents, and disruption to residents, businesses, schools, and public spaces, which members attributed to Thames Water’s failure to maintain adequate infrastructure.
- Members referred to Thames Water’s financial position, high levels of debt, dividend payments, and what was described as a failure of both the privatised model and its regulatory oversight, which they deemed as resulting in poor service and environmental harm.
- Support was expressed for calling on the Government to place Thames Water into special administration and move towards non?profit public ownership, to ensure investment is directed into infrastructure rather than shareholder returns.
- It was emphasised that current local measures, including engagement with Thames Water, planning controls, and Grampian conditions, had been limited in effect and insufficient to resolve the scale of the problem, particularly in the context of planned housing growth.
- Members stressed the need for stronger accountability, independent oversight, and clearer reporting on sewage discharges affecting West Oxfordshire.
- While views differed on whether privatisation itself or regulation was the primary cause, there was broad agreement in seeking intervention to protect residents, public health, and the natural environment.
- The motion was supported as a necessary signal to the Government that the current situation was unacceptable requiring decisive action
Council resolved to:
- To request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Prime Minister calling for Thames water to be brought into public ownership.
- To request that the letter to the Prime Minister also asks that in the meantime no dividends should be made to Thames Water Shareholders, nor bonuses to Thames Water Management until all rivers in the region meet all clean water standards.
- To request that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regularly invites Thames Water to report on a quarterly basis to WODC on how much raw sewage has been pumped into West Oxfordshire rivers and the progress towards preventing this.
Voting record – 33 for, 0 against, 4 abstentions
At this point the three-hour time limited allowed for meetings under 12A of the Council’s Constitution had been reached.
The Chair proposed suspending this rule to allow the remaining motions on the agenda to be considered. This was seconded by the Leader of the Council.
The motion was voted on and fell. The meeting was then closed.
Voting record – For – 3, Against 24
Supporting documents:
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