Debt-laden utility giant Thames Water is in a desperate race to secure £1billion and  fend off its collapse, amid reports it might have to be taken over by the taxpayer.

The firm, which serves 15 million people and is Britain's biggest water supplier, is a staggering £14billion in debt and is reportedly on the 'brink of collapse'. 

So severe is the crisis, Government ministers are now weighing up whether or not to nationalise the business should it fail. 

Thames last year suffered its worst leakage rate in five years, with an estimated 630million litres of water a day escaping from its ageing network of pipes. 

And the under-fire utilities group has faced a huge backlash over the amount of sewage being pumped into rivers amid claims leaks have wiped out thousands of fish, with 8,013 spills record last year - the equivalent of 22 a day. 




Thames Water has faced a huge backlash over the amount of sewage being pumped into rivers amid claims leaks have wiped out thousands of fish, with 8,013 spills record last year. Pictured are dead fish following a leak by the water firm 





Thames last year suffered its worst leakage rate in five years, with an estimated 630million litres of water a day escaping. Pictured is a flooded road in London on August 8





In 2022, Thames Water's leak rate was the worst for five years. Pictured is a Thames Water official delivering bottled water how to fix a burst pipe [boilerrepair-glasgow.co.uk] residents in Northend after its supply was cut off 

The grim statistics, compiled by website Top of the Poops, saw discharges lasting for 74,693 hours - or more than eight years cumulatively - in 378 locations.

The latest discharge took place last Tuesday at Henley-on-Thames in Oxford, with dead fish being pictured later floating in the river after the release.