Thanks to The Big Issue for providing the idea for this: let’s expose the lies private companies tell to avoid taking blame for crises they cause.

According to that magazine, the privatised water companies have adopted tactics from Big Oil and Big Tobacco to “deny, deflect and distract” from the crisis of raw sewage being pumped into our waterways – as follows:

Disinformation: Companies described sewage discharges as “heavily diluted rainwater” – even when pollution presented a risk to health.

Deflecting blame: They also “blamed customers” – suggesting flushed wet wipes were the biggest problem for water infrastructure while neglecting vital upgrades.

Inflating costs: Companies then exaggerated the cost of solving pollution issues, quoting figures as high as £660bn, to “manage expectations around investment and reform.” This laid the groundwork for bill increases that we are suffering from April this year.

Of course, these are just three examples of the excuses given by privatised utility firms.

Do you have a favourite – or at least, one that you’ve heard recently? Let us all know by sending it to the comments.

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