Thames Water dumped raw sewage 9,000 times in 2025 – as GMB Congress calls for worker seat on new super regulator

Thames Water dumped sewage into English waterways 9,189 times in 2025 – as GMB calls for workers to have a seat on the new super regulator.

The spills – which are recorded by the Environment Agency – pumped out raw, untreated sewage for a total of 107,822 hours.

Earlier this year, the Government announced Ofwat would be scrapped and a new ‘super regulator’ would take its place.

GMB’s annual congress in Blackpool today [8 June] discussed the figures and supported a motion calling for ‘a permanent worker seat on the board to safeguard from future failures.’

Cliff Roney, who worked for Thames Water for over 40 years and was recently featured in Channel 4’s Dirty Business, told GMB Congress:

“Over the last 37 years, the ineptitude and failure of Ofwat to regulate the water industry across the UK has cost billpayers dearly as bills rise indefinitely and our waterways are polluted with filth.

“GMB has been instrumental in calling for the abolition of Ofwat so that a new single, powerful regulator can be established.

“Now that this is in progress, it is vital that the new regulator sets aside a permanent worker seat to safeguard from future failures and protect customers.

“GMB has had a trade union seat on other government regulators and independent industry bodies, ensuring that workers voices cannot be silenced.”