Thames Water, the UK’s largest water supplier, is facing a deep financial crisis that has sparked bailout speculation. The crisis stems from a combination of factors, including soaring debts, chronic underinvestment, and a controversial proposal to hike water bills. The company’s current financial state is the culmination of a series of questionable decisions made by successive shareholders. Today, Thames Water’s debts have reached almost £15 billion, a level that has raised concerns about the company’s viability. The situation has become so dire that Thames Water has requested a 44-percent increase in water bills to fund infrastructure and environmental improvements.
