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0 pointsgramie1mo ago0 comments

The BBC said (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw4478wnjdpo) that in 30 years, private water and sewerage companies in England and Wales have extracted over 86 billion pounds (~USD $115 billion), while investing very little.

Meanwhile, consumer water rates in those areas increased by as much as 50% in the past year alone.

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rayiner1mo ago

What is the number? It is a huge red flag if you see an article that cites a profits number without citing a number for capital invested. You literally cannot reach a conclusion either way without comparing the two numbers.

EDIT: The UK water regulator has the capital investment data here: https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/publication/long-term-data-series-o.... What does it say?

PaulDavisThe1st1mo ago

> You literally cannot reach a conclusion either way without comparing the two numbers.

You certainly can reach a conclusion, and the GP did.

What you can't do is to compute the rate on return on their investment. But as a user of a water system, why do I care about that?

rayiner1mo ago

You cannot reach a conclusion. A conclusion is a rational thing based on comparing realistic alternatives.

As the user of the water system you do have to care about the return on investment. Because the alternative is to have the government take out bonds to pay for that work, and you’d have to pay the interest on those bonds with your tax dollars.

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spwa41mo ago

The UK has an economic and corruption problem, not a water problem. In fact, it's probably got too much of all 3.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsgramie1mo ago0 comments

Meanwhile, consumer water rates in those areas increased by as much as 50% in the past year alone.

0 comments

rayiner1mo ago

EDIT: The UK water regulator has the capital investment data here: https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/publication/long-term-data-series-o.... What does it say?

PaulDavisThe1st1mo ago

> You literally cannot reach a conclusion either way without comparing the two numbers.

You certainly can reach a conclusion, and the GP did.

What you can't do is to compute the rate on return on their investment. But as a user of a water system, why do I care about that?

rayiner1mo ago

You cannot reach a conclusion. A conclusion is a rational thing based on comparing realistic alternatives.

1 more reply

spwa41mo ago

The UK has an economic and corruption problem, not a water problem. In fact, it's probably got too much of all 3.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse