Water Company Funding Explained

Thames21 is an independent environmental charity that works to transform London and the Thames Basin into a healthier, more climate-resilient region with rivers that everyone can enjoy.

We do and have accepted funding from Thames Water to support specific work that improves rivers and are committed to complete transparency about the funding we receive. At the same time, Thames21’s core mission includes advocating for positive changes to rivers. This includes pushing water companies to make improvements. Thames Water’s donations to specific pieces of work will not compromise Thames21’s independence or our advocacy for better regulation and enforcement of water companies.

Funding we receive from Thames Water has been used to support the development of programmes of work and monitoring of pollution sources, community work and as well practical action to restore the resilience of rivers, including citizen science work, wetland creation and re-meandering rivers.

Thames Water Community Investment Fund has contributed to funding the following specific projects: :

• Catchment Partnerships (CPs): Thames Water contributes to funding CPs but is not the sole funder. CPs are independent cross-sectoral partnerships; Thames21 is the host organisation. Funding for CPs enables the expansion of work to improve rivers across the Thames Basin. CPs retain their right to challenge Thames Water and any other funder as necessary to achieve their aims.
• Thames River Watch: Thames21 citizen scientists monitor the plastic and sewage related pollution on the Thames foreshore. Thames Water has funded an initial two-year programme of monitoring to provide a baseline level and recently funded a further three years to March 2028. Work has continued since the Tideway Tunnel went into commission last year to gather data on its effectiveness. Consistent with current practice, all data will be made publicly available.