United Utilities, founded in 1995 and based in Cheshire, operates within the utilities industry, specifically focusing on water and wastewater services. The company serves approximately seven million people across the North West of England, managing a vast infrastructure that includes 184 reservoirs, over 42,000 km of water pipes, and 575 wastewater treatment works. They are responsible for the collection, treatment, and distribution of water, as well as the treatment and safe return of wastewater to the environment.