Wessex Water service

Wessex Water is a major regional water and sewage treatment company operating in the United Kingdom. It provides services to approximately 2.8 million customers across an 10,000 square kilometre area of South West England, including Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, and parts of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Originally founded as a state-owned regional water authority following the Water Act of 1973, the company was privatized in 1989. While its operations remain strictly regulated and focused on the British southwest, its ownership history has seen international transitions. After a period of ownership by Enron, it was acquired by the Malaysian conglomerate YTL Corporation in 2002.

Today, Wessex Water stands as one of the most efficient water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of YTL Power International, which is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. Despite its foreign ownership, it continues to be governed by UK environmental and economic regulators, ensuring high standards for local biological and chemical water quality.