Exclusive: ‘Ransom note’ requests would leave Environment Agency unable to prosecute company or management

Oh my Jesus, can we just renationalise them already?

‘We can only squeeze money out of this debt strangled utility if you exempt us from liability, particularly the executives in charge’

What a load of horseshit.

    • talEnglish
      6·
      6 days ago

      Well, depends on the municipality. My local government does water, and according to this, that’s more-common than not, but that’s not a universal.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_privatization_in_the_United_States

      In the latter half of the 19th century, private water systems began to be a part of municipal services.[1] As of 2011, over three quarters of US local governments surveyed by the International City/County Management Association provide water distribution entirely with public employees. Over two thirds of municipalities provide water treatment publicly, and over half provide sewage collection and treatment publicly. These rates have remained relatively stable over time.[2]

      Private water companies have been operating in the United States for over 200 years and now number in the thousands. Collectively, the private water industry serves more than 73 million Americans.