The article highlights that United Utilities, among other water companies, has accumulated 205 criminal convictions without facing significant regulatory consequences. Despite this troubling record, the company continues to operate and even profit, reflecting issues of regulatory capture and unethical business practices.

United Utilities Group PLC issued its 2024 modern slavery statement which details enhanced due diligence on its chemical framework suppliers, including site visits to review working practices and conditions at supplier premises. These measures aim to mitigate modern slavery risks and ensure ethical treatment of workers within its supply chain.

An investigation reveals that United Utilities allegedly misreported its sewage pollution by downgrading serious incidents, which helped the company secure a £5 million bonus. This action has raised concerns over its ethical business practices and commitment to environmental responsibility.

United Utilities Group PLC released its 2023 modern slavery statement summary on July 25, 2023, detailing the measures it is taking to address modern slavery risks in its supply chains. This disclosure supports transparency and ethical business practices within the supply chain.

Over 1,100 United Utilities employees voted to strike in protest of years of underinvestment and real-term pay cuts, despite the company recently tableting a new pay offer of between 7.5% to 8.6% plus a bonus. The industrial action highlights longstanding worker dissatisfaction and concerns over prioritization of shareholder profits over adequate investment in infrastructure and fair labor conditions.

Over 1,000 workers at United Utilities, represented by the GMB union, voted in a strike ballot amid dissatisfaction over pay cuts and a lack of investment in infrastructure affecting water quality. Despite the company's subsequent improved pay offer, the strike vote highlights ongoing labor rights concerns.

United Utilities released its 2023 Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, outlining comprehensive measures to combat modern slavery in its operations and supply chain. The statement details extensive employee training, rigorous supplier audits, and clear standards for ethical labor practices, demonstrating a strong commitment to human rights and labor protections.

A Supreme Court judgment has overturned previous rulings that shielded United Utilities from legal challenges regarding its repeated sewage pollution. The ruling has opened new legal avenues for affected communities, with critics arguing that the company has long avoided accountability for its environmental harm.

United Utilities Group PLC has been accused of illegally dumping between 143 million and 286 million litres of raw sewage into Windermere over a three‐year period (2021-2023) while failing to report at least 102 million litres of discharge to regulators. This incident raises serious concerns about the company's adherence to environmental standards and ethical business practices.