Readers' letters - August 1: Water utilities

Water supplies in England are owned by nine regional water companies – meaning the rain which falls from the clouds is actually the private property of the shareholders of the nine, who make profits out of allowing us to drink it, cook with it, bathe in it, brush our teeth and flush toilets.

Okay it’s been a bit hot recently, United Utilities is banning hosepipes from August 5, and its reservoirs are running dry.

No matter that 25 per cent of treated water supplies is lost through leaking pipes, with lack of investment the reason they leak.

No matter their CEO Steve Mogford has received £12m in pay, bonuses, pension credits over five years for presiding over this. Last year, pay was £2.4m.

No matter United Utilities shareholders were handed £636m in dividends.

And no matter that our region of England has the highest rainfall in all Britain but reservoirs are running dry.

This is privatisation doing what it does best, failing miserably, but still coining in the profits, for having monopoly control over one of the essentials of life... water.

I remember some time ago thinking if Thatcher could have privatised our air, she and her conspirators would have done.

It’s time to take back control of our water so let’s all support the take back the tap campaign and get this essential service back into public hands.

Royston Jones

via email

Should water utilities be nationalised? What do you think?