Contract recipients include Optimise, HS Browne, MTS, Flowline and Cappagh/Morrison.

Together, these firms will be responsible for repairs, cleaning and maintenance of sewer pipes and water mains servicing 13 million customers throughout London and the Thames Valley.

Thames Water Chief Executive Martin Baggs said “Our operational performance is better than ever right now – best-ever water quality, best-ever sewage works compliance and leakage down by a quarter in the past four years. We aim to build on these standards of excellence over the next five years.”

These contracts form part of Thames Water’s £3 billion operating budget for 2010 to 2015.