Thames Water is one of the most highly indebted English water companies, according to Ofwat's ‘gearing’ measure

Gearing is a measure of how much debt the water company has relative to its size

0%

25

50

75

100

Severn Trent Water

83.7%

Thames Water

80.6

Yorkshire Water

73.4

Northumbrian Water

69.7

Wessex Water

67.0

Anglian Water

65.0

Southern Water

64.0

South West Water

63.7

United Utilities Water

61.0

60% maximum gearing

(Ofwat recommendation)

Gearing is a measure of how much debt the water company has relative to its size

0%

25

50

75

100

83.7%

Severn Trent Water

80.6

Thames Water

73.4

Yorkshire Water

69.7

Northumbrian Water

67.0

Wessex Water

65.0

Anglian Water

64.0

Southern Water

63.7

South West Water

61.0

United Utilities Water

60% maximum gearing

(Ofwat recommendation)