Thames Water - Business Water Supplier Review 

Thames Water caters to both domestic and non-domestic water consumers in the UK. Like all the other water suppliers in the deregulated market, Thames Water is competing for business water customers. 

When the water market was regulated, business owners had very few choices. There was one water supplier in each region of the UK. Business owners had to accept the unit rates, terms, and support offered by that supplier. 

Ofwat deregulated the water market in April of 2017. Now, Thames Water business water customers can switch to any other supplier that operates in their region. With so many options on the table, lots of business owners are wondering whether Thames Water is the best option for their needs. Our experts have researched Thames Water’s services, customer support practices, and prices so that you do not have to.

Introduction to Thames Water

Thames Water is one of the most well-recognised water suppliers in the UK. This supplier, which draws its name from the source of its water, was founded in 1989. It has remained active in the market throughout regulation and deregulation. Over 15 million domestic and commercial water consumers in the South of England rely on Thames Water. That is an astounding 27% of the population, which makes Thames Water the UK’s largest water supplier! 

In 2021, CEO Sarah Bentley set out to correct some of the problems in the company that were causing ‘frustration and disappointment’. She spoke to customers, stakeholders, and colleagues to create a three-part plan. This plan includes fixing the basics, raising the bar, and shaping the future. 

Thames Water business water customers can rest assured that their supplier is invested in sustainability programmes. By committing £1 billion a year, the brains behind Thames Water hope to ensure the sustainability of their network for years to come. They have also planned several large-scale improvement projects. 

The Thames Tideway Tunnel is just one of the projects that Thames Water has invested in. Business water consumers might have already heard of this development, which has been dubbed the ‘Super Sewer’. A construction company called Tideway will finish the Super Sewer by 2024 and hand over control to Thames Water. It will intercept at minimum 94% of the sewage that overflows into the Thames every year.

Thames Water Commercial Water Services

Thames Water is the UK’s biggest wholesale water and wastewater service provider. Restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals, and schools across the UK rely on Thames Water for drinking water. Businesses, charities, and public sector organisations that fall within Thames Water’s supply region are all eligible for these services. 

This commercial water supplier has a range of non-household water services including freshwater, wastewater, trade effluent, and tankered domestic waste services. 

Business owners have to apply for permission before they release trade effluent into sewers. Trade effluent is any liquid waste that has been produced on non-household premises for trade purposes. 

Prospective Thames Water business water customers can use this water savings calculator to discover whether or not they should switch. Thames Water claims that businesses can save up to 30% on their monthly bills with low or zero cost measures. 

Thames Water Business Water Reviews

In our modern digital world, business water consumers have the power to leave feedback on all sorts of services. If customers are unhappy, they can express their opinions on sites such as Trustpilot. Trustpilot is a brilliant platform for customers who want to leave timely, relevant feedback. 

Commercial water consumers should remember that Thames Water only has one account for domestic and non-domestic customers. They should expect to see a range of reviews. 

Thames Water has 1.4/5 stars on Trustpilot and an average rating of bad. Customers can leave excellent, great, average, poor, and bad reviews. 6% of customers think that the services are excellent, whereas an overwhelming 88% of customers think that the services are bad. This might account for CEO Sarah Bentley’s recent commitment to change the company’s direction. 

Prospective Thames Water business water customers will be pleased to know that there are a few positives. Lots of customers comment on the ‘outstanding’ and ‘professional’ customer service representatives and tradesmen. However, negative reviews claim that the company ‘does not even deserve one star’ and that the call centre staff are rude and sarcastic. 

A representative from Thames Water replies to all the reviews whether they are positive or negative.

Thames Water Average Business Water Prices

Like all the other commercial water suppliers on the market, Thames Water is transparent about its charges. Ofwat is the regulatory body that manages the water market in the UK. Each year, Ofwat decides how much water wholesalers and retailers can charge their customers. Thames Water can charge as much or as little as it wants to within the bounds of Ofwat’s regulations. 

Business water customers can review Thames Water’s wholesale charges on the website. The wholesale tariff document tells potential customers everything that they need to know about present charges. Prices vary based on lots of different factors including pipe sizes. 

Non-domestic premises that have 12/15mm pipes will be charged a fixed cost of £17.84 for highways drainage, £30.74 for surface water drainage, and £0.00 for foul drainage. Customers can find additional information on the website. 

Read through our water reduction checklist for money-saving tips and tricks. 

Why Switch Commercial Water Suppliers?

Here are some of the reasons why commercial water consumers might want to switch suppliers. 

• Network improvements - More and more suppliers are understanding the importance of investing in their networks. Water networks are a vital part of fresh water and even wastewater services across the UK. Victorian systems, leaks, and deterioration are threatening the sustainability of water networks, which is why it is important to choose a supplier that cares about these issues.
• Environmentally-friendly practices - Eco-friendly practices are green flags for business owners that care about their environmental impact. Both big and small businesses have an impact on the environment, which makes it even more vital for them to invest in the right supplier. Eco-conscious suppliers can help businesses offset their environmental impact.
• Competitive rates - Most business owners switch suppliers in pursuit of better unit rates. In the competitive water market, the lowest unit rate is bound to catch the attention of business owners. Although it is a good idea to secure the lowest rate possible, business owners should not ignore the other things that make a good business water supplier.
• Customer service support - Thames Water business water consumers understand the importance of strong customer service support. If customer representatives do not know what they are doing, business owners might experience a loss in profits. Even worse, issues can remain unresolved for months. Business owners can eliminate stress from their lives by finding a water supplier that cares about customer service support. 

So, can you change business water suppliers?

How to Switch Business Water Suppliers?

Switching suppliers is a relatively new option for business owners. Lots of business owners have not even had a chance to consider this new option. The market was only deregulated in April of 2017. A lot of business owners have been too busy with day to day operations to think about switching, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Commercial water consumers depend on us for seamless switching services. We have helped thousands of domestic and non-domestic water customers across the UK find a suitable supplier. 

For more information about our seamless switching service, visit our business water page.