Water, Water Everywhere?

Lots of excitememts currently surround England's Privatised Water Companies. These 'cash-cow' monopolies (they have been 'milked', for substantial rewards to share-holders and CEOs), seem to now be 'going down the drain' (forgive the pun). A spate of cryptosporosis in Brixham (Devon), was linked to South West Water's supply of tapwater. Cryptosporosis results from water supply contamination by animal faeces. The human infection is very unpleasant, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. There's a consequent risk of dehydration. Predictably, holiday makers currently don't feel inclined to stay in Brixham (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/18/brixham-devon-water-infection-cryptosporidium-cases). Thames Water (serving London) has now also had customers in its Beckenham area, also afflicted with vomiting and diarrhoea. The company have slowly been carrying out tests for cryptosporosis in a very limited area (https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/29/thames-water-urged-to-test-supply-urgently-after-reported-illnesses). Thames Water also currently claims to be in a precarious financial position. Its shareholders are refusing to provide funding for mandatory upgrades to its Victorian infrastructure. Ofwat is the regulator, responsible for regulating the UK's Water Companies. The companies would like the regulator to approve massive increases in charges for water supplies/sewage treatment. This would effectively make the customers pay for any upgrades. Ofwat are apparently not 'poised' to agree the kind of charges the Water Companies would like (https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/28/water-watchdog-suppliers-price-rises-ofwat-bills-thames-water). The regulator is, however, 'minded' to reduce the fines to financially-struggling Water Companies, for their illegal pollution of rivers and coastal areas (https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/29/ofwat-reduce-sewage-fines-financially-struggling-water-firms). More s*** in water discharges but less direct cost to customers! Water Company activity in England appears to be a uniformly dirty business. Who said water privatisation was a good idea?