British Water
British Water is the leading UK membership trade association for the water and wastewater supply chain, serving more than 230 companies through forums, events, publications, and international partnerships. It generates revenue from annual subscriptions and events to connect consultants, contractors, manufacturers, water utilities, and government stakeholders.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What British Water does
British Water is the leading UK membership trade association for the water and wastewater supply chain, representing more than 230 member companies with combined turnover in excess of £1bn. Founded in 1993 through the merger of BEWA and BWIG and tracing its origins to 1938, the organisation is headquartered in London and operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, Water Industry Forum Limited (acquired 2022). Its core proposition is delivered through four dedicated forums — UK Forum, International Forum, Technical Forum, and Water Industry Forum — which connect consultants, contractors, manufacturers, water companies, government bodies, start-ups, and sole traders to industry contacts, intelligence, and policy influence.
The offering is built on a digital platform powered by YourMembership association management software with Secure Trading payment processing and social login integrations. Service lines include the UK Water Innovation Map, Innovation Portal, Member Directory, technical publications, supply chain impact surveys, the Women on Water campaign, and a Thought Leadership+ series, complemented by flagship events such as the Annual Lunch, Winter Reception, and Micropollutants Conference. Strategic partnerships span Ofwat, DEFRA, the Environment Agency, Drinking Water Inspectorate, Department for Business and Trade, Water Industry Commission for Scotland, Innovate UK, the International Water Association, and international bodies including The Water Council (Milwaukee) and the Australian Water Association.
Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership subscriptions (priced by organisation size/type, with a £766 + VAT flat rate for start-ups and sole traders, and a 10-month direct-debit option) and supplementary events and sponsorship income from a roster of Flagship sponsors including GHD, Jacobs, RSE, South West Water, Victaulic, and Xylem. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with new memberships approved by the Board of Directors.
British Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- British Water
- Legal name
- British Water Limited
- Website
- https://britishwater.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- British Water is the leading UK membership trade association for the water and wastewater supply chain, serving more than 230 companies through forums, events, publications, and international partnerships. It generates revenue from annual subscriptions and events to connect consultants, contractors, manufacturers, water utilities, and government stakeholders.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
British Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Industry Trade Association Services
- NAICS
- Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)
- SIC
- Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)
Keywords
Where British Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
British Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Primary revenue source. Membership subscriptions are paid annually by members. Fees vary based on organization type and size. Start-ups and single person enterprises receive discounted flat rate of £766 plus VAT.
- Events Programme: Additional income derived from successful events programme including conferences, workshops, webinars, and international trade shows. Members receive complimentary or reduced ticket prices.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard membership with full access to services |
| Subscription | Annual | Start-ups and Single Person Enterprises flat rate |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Non-members access to some services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
British Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
British Water is a UK membership-based trade association that serves the water and wastewater supply chain, providing members with networking, policy influence, industry intelligence, events, and international market access. Its core offering is delivered through four forums (UK Forum, International Forum, Technical Forum, and Water Industry Forum) supplemented by publications, the Innovation Portal, the UK Water Innovation Map, the Women on Water campaign, the Micropollutants Conference, and supply chain impact surveys.
Product overview
British Water is the leading UK membership body for the water and wastewater supply chain, offering a unified platform of interconnected services. The core offering consists of four strategic forums: the UK Forum (focusing on domestic municipal and industrial markets), Technical Forum (exploring technological developments and standards), International Forum (connecting globally for export and market access), and Water Industry Forum (providing neutral thought leadership on cross-sector challenges). Supporting these forums are value-added services including the Women on Water campaign, UK Water Innovation Map and Innovation Portal for technology showcase, Thought Leadership series for industry insight, publications and technical guidance documents, the annual Micropollutants Conference, Water Sector Multi-capitals Network, supply chain impact surveys, and a searchable member directory. Together, these services enable members to network, gain industry intelligence, influence policy, and grow their businesses in the UK and internationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UK Forum A forum focusing on the UK municipal and industrial markets, providing members access to information and contacts for building business in the UK water and wastewater market. For British Water members such as consultants, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, and water companies.
- Technical Forum A forum exploring the latest technological developments in water and wastewater treatment, coordinating technical activities, focus groups, and standards development. For British Water member companies.
- International Forum A forum connecting water industry contacts around the world, providing market briefings, tech showcases, and business development support for international export. For British Water member companies.
- Water Industry Forum A neutral and independent subsidiary of British Water providing challenge-led thought leadership and collaborative working to tackle challenges facing the UK water sector. For water sector stakeholders across the supply chain.
- Member Directory Searchable directory of British Water member organisations across the supply chain, searchable by company category, area of expertise, and sector of activity. For British Water members and the wider water sector.
- Micropollutants Conference Annual conference exploring the latest evidence, emerging risks, and practical solutions for micropollutants management across the water cycle. For industry, policy, academic, and innovation leaders.
- Supply Chain Impact Surveys Regular impact surveys supporting the supply chain, including the Annual Survey of Water Company Performance. For British Water members and the water sector.
Quantifiable outcome
- 230+ member companies with combined turnover exceeding £1bn
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use British Water
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
British Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
British Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Australian Water AssociationcoreBritish Water signed a co-operation deal with the Australian Water Association to open new collaborative possibilities between UK and Australian water sectors.
- The Water Council (Milwaukee)coreMemorandum of Action signed to help UK businesses export expertise internationally and support transatlantic collaboration in water technology.
- GHDflagshipSponsor of British Water, providing support for events and initiatives.
- JacobsflagshipSponsor of British Water and Women on Water campaign.
- RSEflagshipTechnical Forum sponsor.
- South West WaterflagshipSponsor of British Water and Women on Water campaign.
- VictaulicflagshipUK Forum sponsor.
- XylemflagshipSponsor of British Water and Women on Water campaign.
- CECA (UK, Ireland, Scotland)coreCivil Engineering Contractors Association partnerships for industry collaboration.
- CIWEMcoreChartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management partnership.
- Cranfield UniversitycoreAcademic partnership for research and knowledge transfer.
- Department for Business and Trade (DBT)coreGovernment partnership supporting international trade and export.
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)coreGovernment partnership for policy development and water sector regulation.
- Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)coreRegulatory partnership for water quality standards.
- Environment AgencycoreRegulatory partnership for environmental protection.
- OfwatcoreEconomic regulator partnership for price reviews and market development.
- Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS)coreScottish regulatory partnership.
- Innovate UKcoreInnovation funding and support partnership.
- International Water Association (IWA)coreGlobal water association partnership for international collaboration.
- Womens Utilities Network (WUN)coreCo-sponsor of Women on Water campaign with mentorship programme.
- Community of Women in Water (CWIW)corePartner in Women on Water campaign supporting diversity.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
British Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Water Environment Federation (WEF): US-based membership organisation focused on water quality and wastewater with extensive events and technical education; a broad incumbent analogous to British Water's Technical and Water Industry Forums.
- American Water Works Association (AWWA): Largest US-based water-sector membership organisation with deep standards, conferences and policy work; comparable as a broad incumbent association, though North American in focus.
Direct peers
- Water UK: UK water-industry trade association representing the major water-company members directly; highly comparable as a sector membership body covering water and wastewater, sitting alongside British Water in the UK water ecosystem.
- International Water Association (IWA): Global membership-based water organisation running events, specialist groups and publications; British Water is a Core partner and both operate forum/conference models for water professionals.
- The Water Council (Milwaukee): US-based water-technology cluster and membership body that signed a 2025 Memorandum of Action with British Water; directly comparable as a sector convening organisation driving innovation and export support.
- Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM): UK-based chartered professional body for the water and environmental management sector with overlapping individual and corporate memberships, policy influence and events; a current British Water strategic partner and direct comparator in membership services.
- Australian Water Association: Peak national membership body for the Australian water sector and 2026 co-operation partner of British Water; directly comparable in running forums, events and policy advocacy for water professionals and suppliers.
- Water Industry Forum (WIF): Neutral UK water-sector convening body now operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of British Water since the 2022 merger; directly comparable as a thought-leadership and cross-sector collaboration platform.
Emerging players
- WateReuse Association: US-based membership body focused on water reuse and recycling with conferences, advocacy and a member directory; overlaps with British Water's Micropollutants Conference and Technical Forum on emerging contaminants.
Others
- CECA (Civil Engineering Contractors Association): UK trade association representing civil engineering contractors, including those serving the water sector; a current British Water partner with overlapping contractor membership and adjacent industry voice.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
British Water social profiles
Digital presenceBritish Water compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
British Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
British Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
British Water subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
British Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
British Water M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about British Water
What does British Water do?
British Water is a UK membership-based trade association that serves the water and wastewater supply chain, providing members with networking, policy influence, industry intelligence, events, and international market access. Its core offering is delivered through four forums (UK Forum, International Forum, Technical Forum, and Water Industry Forum) supplemented by publications, the Innovation Portal, the UK Water Innovation Map, the Women on Water campaign, the Micropollutants Conference, and supply chain impact surveys.
Is British Water a public or private company?
British Water is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was British Water founded?
British Water was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is British Water based?
British Water is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does British Water make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are events Programme.
Who are British Water's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Water Environment Federation (WEF) and American Water Works Association (AWWA). Direct peers are Water UK, International Water Association (IWA), The Water Council (Milwaukee), Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), Australian Water Association and Water Industry Forum (WIF). WateReuse Association is listed as an emerging player. CECA (Civil Engineering Contractors Association) is listed as an others.
Does British Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for British Water.
What industry is British Water in?
British Water's product category is Water Industry Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAH, Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management. Its NAICS code is 2213 and its SIC code is 4900.