Residents in a new development in Horley, Surrey are contending with sewage pollution due to a decrepit sewage treatment plant on the River Mole.

Thames Water, England's largest privatised water utility, is laden with £18.3bn in debt and is on the brink of insolvency, prompting a search for a shareholder bailout.

The company is under fire for possibly illegal sewage discharges, has been fined for deceiving the Environment Agency, and is criticized for significant pollution in the River Mole.

The crisis at Thames Water reflects broader issues in the privatised water industry in England, characterized by high debts and shareholder dividends, with the likelihood of increased customer bills to fund infrastructure investments.

While Thames Water plans to upgrade facilities including the Horley sewage treatment works to better manage sewage and limit untreated discharges, residents worry about being overlooked amid the company's financial turmoil.