Thames Water to invest £400 million to future-proof London’s water supply

• The UK’s largest water company is set to invest £400 million upgrading water infrastructure across London, in order to keep the taps flowing for its customers  
• Ofwat, the water industry economic regulator, has approved further funding as part of a conditional allowance under PR19 for Thames Water to improve the resilience of its water service across the capital – conditional on meeting key milestones when delivering the upgrades  
• Major investments will be made at Coppermills and Hampton water treatment works with the full programme of work due to finish by January 2032 

Thames Water is set to upgrade two water treatment works in London, so that the company continues to deliver a secure supply of high-quality drinking water for customers across the capital.  

During Price Review 19 (PR19), industry regulator Ofwat made a provision for Thames Water to investigate resilience risks and identify the required solutions to improve London’s water supply. The allowance was conditional on Thames passing a series of detailed investment reviews with Ofwat. 

Thames Water has now agreed the investment needs with Ofwat and will take forward several schemes at Coppermills and Hampton that will improve the resilience of the water supply network.  

The planned upgrades at Coppermills and Hampton water treatment works will replace some of the company’s ageing infrastructure and build new treatment capabilities creating a resilient supply of water for future generations.  

Esther Sharples, Chief Operating Officer at Thames Water, said: “London is a 24/7 city and it’s our job to provide customers with a secure supply of water around the clock. It’s critical that we build resilience and invest in major infrastructure, so that we can meet the challenges ahead.  

“As the population of London increases and we experience hotter and drier summers, we continue to see the demand for water grow. Investing in the condition of our assets is core to our continued turnaround and our planned upgrades will mean improved water security for millions of Londoners.”  

Thames Water will provide regular updates to Ofwat on its progress in delivering its key project milestones.