Of course, the easiest option is to do as little as possible and hit the
customers instead

No it isn't. a good water company cares for its product and its customers.

Maybe, but you used the word "good" there

Yorkshire water is exemplorary.

The amount of water lost in the watercos' pipework is a matter of record
and is IMO fairly disgraceful.

So what are you doing about it?

Privatisation of the watercos was sold on the "fact" that it would allow
money to be put into repairing the infrastructure, but, of course, the
attitude is one of take the money and run

That says more about your attitude than that of the water companies. They
can't turn things round easily - and they can't control users' usage

Mary