Researchers find Welsh Water adds £1bn to Wales' economy

Not-for-profit, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, contributes more than £1bn a year to the Welsh economy according to findings from Cardiff University’s Welsh Economy Research Unit.

The researchers found that 58% of Welsh Water’s £684m in total expenditure in 2021-22 was retained in Wales. The company reported operating expenditure at £395m, with capital costs at £289m for the year. Revenue for the year was reported at £793m.

In its report:The impact of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water on the Welsh economy, the Cardiff University unit found that the company directly and indirectly supports more than 9,100 jobs in Wales – near 50% more than ten years ago.

He report authors point out: “The not for profit status means that funds are reinvested in the business in Wales which might otherwise be distributed to shareholders.” The company reported examples of this reinvestment as £100m “allocated to improve river water quality” and £13m committed to expanding social tariffs and other funding to a further 50,000 households.