About the Water Sector

The life cycle of water is a complex process, with various stages of capturing it, purifying it, distributing it, and finally discharging it. Due to its complexity, there are many stages that provide opportunities to the UK supply chain.  As with all resources, water is finite, however, it is rarely treated as such. With the added pressures of climate change, urbanisation and aging infrastructure with increasing leakages, effective water management is a growing priority for the UK as well as the world. 

The Water Sector comprises a broad range of assets and services involving the use or control of water for the benefit of people and their environment. This includes the identification and exploitation of water resources; the treatment and distribution of water to acceptable standards; and the collection and treatment of wastewater and its by-products. ​

With a highly regulated sector in the UK, with England being wholly privatised and Scotland nationalised, the UK offers a great model for other countries to follow. The privatisation and regulation of the UK water industry has led to innovation and operating efficiencies. The UK industry delivers high quality, innovative products and services to a backdrop of high environmental and ethical standards. Examples of products that the UK is a leader include; modelling and analytical tools, such as building information modelling (BIM); technical and advisory services, such as for tunnelling; and supply and distribution of quality water. As part of the push for sustainability, the UK has developed increasingly sophisticated asset management techniques to maximise asset life and minimise operational costs. The UK has been a leading advocate of energy recovery and the conversion of sludge to a valuable by-product. The UK also has a strong flood resilience offering, spanning flood prediction and management, catchment management and other innovative non-engineering techniques.