What’s next in the UK water sector

UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR)’s Chemical Investigations Programme (CIP) represents the UK water industry’s most comprehensive scientific response to tackling chemical substances in the water environment. Through consistent monitoring, shared methods, and collaborative working, the programme is supporting greater transparency and earlier, better-informed action. It is a prime example of the system-wide, joined-up approach called for in the Government’s recent white paper on water sector reform.

New Environment Agency requirements on sewer overflow reporting are placing urgent pressure on water companies to better quantify and reduce groundwater infiltration in wastewater networks. In this article, Ryan Pearson, Head of Strategy at Metasphere (a Grundfos company), explains how high-quality data and advanced monitoring can help utilities meet new compliance requirements, reduce pollution events, and support lower-carbon, nature-based infrastructure solutions.

Regulation 4 and Regulation 31 are often referenced in UK water industry specifications, but their impact on manufacturers and the supply chain is far-reaching. In this article, Groundbreaker Systems explores how approvals such as WRAS, KIWA and NSF shape product design, testing and compliance. While rigorous and costly to achieve, these approvals provide vital assurance that materials and products used in water networks will protect drinking water quality and perform reliably for decades. Ultimately, compliance is not just about certification, it is about safeguarding the safety and resilience of the UK’s water infrastructure.

The UK government is moving toward a single construction regulator with sweeping authority over the entire construction products market. In this article, David Smoker, Chair of Future Water Association’s Standards and Regulations Group, examines the latest developments including the Single Construction Regulator Prospectus, PAS 2000, and the Construction Products Reform White Paper. The reforms, driven by lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, will introduce stronger testing, certification, and transparency requirements across both buildings and civil engineering. For sectors such as water and infrastructure, this marks a significant shift in compliance expectations and regulatory oversight.

As the UK water sector moves into year two of AMP 8, the industry is facing increasing pressure from climate volatility, public scrutiny, and the rapid growth of digital infrastructure. With an expanded Ofwat Innovation Fund, utilities now have greater opportunity to accelerate solutions such as advanced leakage detection, nature-based treatment approaches, and smarter network management. At the same time, the rise of smart meters and real-time monitoring is generating vast amounts of data—bringing both powerful insights and new cyber security risks. To meet these challenges, the sector must prioritise asset health, predictive maintenance, interoperable systems, and strategic investment in high-impact projects that strengthen resilience across the UK’s critical water infrastructure.

Steve Vick International (SVI) has launched a new website and fully integrated online shop, designed to improve the digital experience for customers and make accessing tools and solutions easier than ever. The new platform enhances navigation and brings together product information, downloadable resources, and instructional videos in one place. By moving more tools and services online, SVI is making it simpler for customers to research, select, and purchase products directly through the website.

Viking Johnson has unveiled EasiFit, a next-generation encapsulation collar designed to deliver rapid, safe, and permanent under-pressure pipeline repairs. Engineered to maintain supply continuity, EasiFit allows utilities to seal leaks and restore system integrity without shutdowns. With a large-cavity design, corrosion-resistant coating, and pressure ratings up to 32 bar, it offers a durable solution for both emergency repairs and planned maintenance across potable water and wastewater networks.

AUMA Actuators Limited has launched a new battery backup system designed to keep electric actuators operational during mains power loss. Engineered for critical infrastructure, the solution combines proven lead-acid battery technology, automated self-diagnostics, oversized capacity, and maintenance-free operation to deliver resilience, safety, and long-term reliability across water, energy, and process control environments.

The Government’s Water Sector White Paper marks a defining moment for industry reform, setting out a clear path toward a single integrated regulator and a new supervisory, delivery-focused model. In this CEO blog, Future Water reflects on what the reforms mean for regulation, resilience, transition risk, and how the Association will support the sector through the changes ahead.

Behaviour-led water efficiency is inherently unpredictable and difficult to bank against long-term targets. This article explores why reliance on customer behaviour introduces planning risk—and how system-level, engineered solutions like meter-point flow moderation deliver consistent, auditable, and enduring demand reduction without ongoing customer effort.

The Independent Water Commission’s Final Report signals a fundamental reset for the UK water sector. As reactive management becomes untenable, this article argues that predictive, data-driven intelligence is now a regulatory and operational necessity. Exploring the move to proactive supervision, the role of AI, real-time monitoring, digital twins, and integrated data, it sets out how water companies can deliver resilience, compliance, and public trust in the new regulatory era.

AUMA Actuators Limited has been awarded Primary Supplier status on Severn Trent Water’s new framework for electric actuators. The long-term agreement strengthens AUMA’s role as a trusted engineering partner, providing intelligent, modular actuator technology, lifecycle support, and technical expertise to support asset performance, resilience, and AMP8 delivery priorities.