What’s next in the UK water sector

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.

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.