What’s next in the UK water sector

As water systems become more complex, real-time metering and monitoring are critical for operational insight and regulatory confidence. This article explains how Smarter Technologies’ smart water solutions - powered by the Orion Real-Time Data Network™ and the SmarterView platform - deliver automated readings, early leak detection, remote control, and continuous compliance visibility, helping organisations manage risk, efficiency, and safety with confidence.

The water sector faces unprecedented pressure, but many delivery failures aren’t caused by lack of effort, funding, or technology. They stem from weak process design. Drawing on real-world experience across operations and transformation, this article explores why clear ownership, end-to-end process thinking, and practical design authority are critical to resilient, high-performing water services—and why process can no longer be an afterthought.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is expanding its deployment of Flygt Concertor intelligent pumping systems after a successful trial that achieved 40% energy savings and reduced blockages. This initiative supports their broader goals of pollution reduction and carbon neutrality by 2040.

As the UK water sector enters 2026, it faces critical challenges in governance, capability, and public trust. Future Water Association aims to facilitate practical changes to improve system performance and accountability.

Celebrate excellence in the UK water sector by nominating outstanding individuals and organisations for the 2026 Future Water Awards, recognising emerging talent, people, and above-and-beyond contributions.

The Future Water Association reflects on a successful 2025, highlighting key achievements in events, policy influence, and member engagement, while looking forward to its 40th anniversary in 2026.

EA Global AI has joined the Future Water Association to enhance digital processes in the water sector. Their AI-driven platform aims to streamline form-filling, allowing teams to focus on innovation and efficiency.

Urban trees play a crucial role in stormwater management by enhancing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), helping to mitigate flooding and improve water quality in cities.

The UK water sector's reliance on behaviour-led efficiency campaigns has limitations. To achieve significant water savings, the focus should shift to engineered efficiency solutions that operate automatically and consistently without requiring customer intervention.

Matrix Water has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first NAV in the UK to implement 100% Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). This development enhances operational efficiency and customer service through real-time data insights.

The UK water sector is set to invest £104 billion under AMP8 to enhance infrastructure resilience. Emphasising a functional safety approach can help manage risks and improve system reliability across the industry.

Two public utilities in the Île-de-France region have successfully implemented the EnigmaREACH leakage detection toolkit, achieving significant results in identifying leaks across dense urban areas.