Latest news with #UnitedUtilities'
Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Major heatwave water warning for seven areas as Brits urged to act immediately
Affinity Water is one of several water firms warning its customers to cut down on water usage as the recent heatwave places a strain on the UK's reservoir network The UK's largest water provider has issued a major heatwave warning as already sweltering temperatures look set to climb into the stratosphere this weekend. The last few days have seen Brits hit with sweltering heat blasts reaching well above the average for the time of year, with the southeast blasted with 31C on Thursday and a blistering 32C expected in the area on Saturday. The rest of the nation will see similar but not quite as unbearable extremes between 18C and 28C, with no sign of rain until the following week. The UK's largest water provider has warned its customers about the prolonged heat, with millions of people having now received an urgent notice. Affinity Water recently sent its roughly 3.6 million customers a message telling them to help "make a real difference" over the coming days of the heatwave. The note, sent via email, asks customers to cut back on their water consumption, and to only run the tap for "essentials" as the heat puts a "real strain on the network". It states: "To make sure we can keep water flowing to you and your community, we're asking our customers to make a real difference over the next few days. "Please cut back where you can - delay or stop non-essential use and make every drop count. Please only use water for essentials like drinking, cooking and washing. The increase in water usage is putting a real strain on our network." Affinity Water supplies water primarily across the southeast to approximately 1.4 million homes and 78,000 "non-household connections". Regions under its supply chain include Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and several London boroughs, including Harrow, Hillingdon, and parts of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, and Enfield. The network added in the email that residents of these areas are currently using water at an unsustainable rate that is "faster than we can pump it and store it". If usage stays high, the email adds, it could lead to a "no water situation". The note states: "That means your area could see lower water pressure or a no water situation if usage stays high." Affinity is far from the only water supply firm that has issued a warning to its customers, with the hot weather placing a strain on several other suppliers. United Utilities' north west water board has asked customers to save water where they can, with reservoirs in the north of England dropping more than 20 percent below average. Anglian Water has followed suit, telling customers to "use a little less". The company serves millions of customers across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and parts of Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Essex.
ITV News
16-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
North West water supplier's profit doubles as customers see bill hikes
A water firm's profit more than doubled in 2024 before it hit customers with a steep rise in bills in April. United Utilities ' more than seven million customers across the North West are seeing their water bills rise by an average of 32% over the next five years. But the biggest annual rise came in April this year, when bills surged by an average of £86 for a typical household. The increase is designed to fund £13.7 billion of upgrades to its pipes and sewers, after the company was accused of illegally pumping raw sewage into Lake Windermere in recent years. But for the year ending 31 March, as it geared up to charge customers more, United Utilities' pre-tax profits also more than doubled to £355 million. And it said on Thursday that it will increase its dividend payout to investors by 4.2% to 34.6p. Chief executive Louise Beardmore said: 'We have delivered another strong set of results for customers, communities and the environment in the North West.' She pointed to the company cutting sewage spills per storm overflow by a quarter last year. The company was recently accused of failing to report more than 100 million litres of untreated sewage that it illegally dumped into Windermere over a three-year period. Ms Beardmore told MPs in February that United Utilities' record on spills and flooding 'isn't good enough'. She took home a pay packet of £1.4 million last year, made up of a base salary worth £690,000, plus benefits, bonuses and long-term share awards. The UK's privatised water companies have faced growing public outrage over the extent of pollution, rising bills, high dividends, and executive pay and bonuses. The results come after a survey revealed households' trust in water companies has fallen to a new low amid the crisis. Fewer households – 53%, down 2% on last year to another all-time low – believe the amount water companies charge is fair, according to the Consumer Council for Water's (CCW) annual Water Matters study.
Rhyl Journal
15-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
North West water supplier's profit doubles as it hikes customer bills
The company's more than seven million customers across the North West are seeing their water bills rise by an average of 32% over the next five years. But the biggest annual rise came in April this year, when bills surged by an average of £86 for a typical household. The increase is designed to fund £13.7 billion of upgrades to its pipes and sewers, after the company was accused of illegally pumping raw sewage into Lake Windermere in recent years. But for the year ending March 31, as it geared up to charge customers more, United Utilities' pre-tax profits also more than doubled to £355 million. And it said on Thursday that it will increase its dividend payout to investors by 4.2% to 34.6p. Chief executive Louise Beardmore said: 'We have delivered another strong set of results for customers, communities and the environment in the North West.' She pointed to the company cutting sewage spills per storm overflow by a quarter last year. The company was recently accused of failing to report more than 100 million litres of untreated sewage that it illegally dumped into Windermere over a three-year period. Ms Beardmore told MPs in February that United Utilities' record on spills and flooding 'isn't good enough'. She took home a pay packet of £1.4 million last year, made up of a base salary worth £690,000, plus benefits, bonuses and long-term share awards. The UK's privatised water companies have faced growing public outrage over the extent of pollution, rising bills, high dividends, and executive pay and bonuses. The results come after a survey revealed households' trust in water companies has fallen to a new low amid the crisis. Fewer households – 53%, down 2% on last year to another all-time low – believe the amount water companies charge is fair, according to the Consumer Council for Water's (CCW) annual Water Matters study.
Glasgow Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
North West water supplier's profit doubles as it hikes customer bills
The company's more than seven million customers across the North West are seeing their water bills rise by an average of 32% over the next five years. But the biggest annual rise came in April this year, when bills surged by an average of £86 for a typical household. The increase is designed to fund £13.7 billion of upgrades to its pipes and sewers, after the company was accused of illegally pumping raw sewage into Lake Windermere in recent years. But for the year ending March 31, as it geared up to charge customers more, United Utilities' pre-tax profits also more than doubled to £355 million. And it said on Thursday that it will increase its dividend payout to investors by 4.2% to 34.6p. Chief executive Louise Beardmore said: 'We have delivered another strong set of results for customers, communities and the environment in the North West.' She pointed to the company cutting sewage spills per storm overflow by a quarter last year. The company was recently accused of failing to report more than 100 million litres of untreated sewage that it illegally dumped into Windermere over a three-year period. Ms Beardmore told MPs in February that United Utilities' record on spills and flooding 'isn't good enough'. She took home a pay packet of £1.4 million last year, made up of a base salary worth £690,000, plus benefits, bonuses and long-term share awards. The UK's privatised water companies have faced growing public outrage over the extent of pollution, rising bills, high dividends, and executive pay and bonuses. The results come after a survey revealed households' trust in water companies has fallen to a new low amid the crisis. Fewer households – 53%, down 2% on last year to another all-time low – believe the amount water companies charge is fair, according to the Consumer Council for Water's (CCW) annual Water Matters study.
Western Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
North West water supplier's profit doubles as it hikes customer bills
The company's more than seven million customers across the North West are seeing their water bills rise by an average of 32% over the next five years. But the biggest annual rise came in April this year, when bills surged by an average of £86 for a typical household. The increase is designed to fund £13.7 billion of upgrades to its pipes and sewers, after the company was accused of illegally pumping raw sewage into Lake Windermere in recent years. But for the year ending March 31, as it geared up to charge customers more, United Utilities' pre-tax profits also more than doubled to £355 million. And it said on Thursday that it will increase its dividend payout to investors by 4.2% to 34.6p. Chief executive Louise Beardmore said: 'We have delivered another strong set of results for customers, communities and the environment in the North West.' She pointed to the company cutting sewage spills per storm overflow by a quarter last year. The company was recently accused of failing to report more than 100 million litres of untreated sewage that it illegally dumped into Windermere over a three-year period. Ms Beardmore told MPs in February that United Utilities' record on spills and flooding 'isn't good enough'. She took home a pay packet of £1.4 million last year, made up of a base salary worth £690,000, plus benefits, bonuses and long-term share awards. The UK's privatised water companies have faced growing public outrage over the extent of pollution, rising bills, high dividends, and executive pay and bonuses. The results come after a survey revealed households' trust in water companies has fallen to a new low amid the crisis. Fewer households – 53%, down 2% on last year to another all-time low – believe the amount water companies charge is fair, according to the Consumer Council for Water's (CCW) annual Water Matters study.
