UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR)

Name

UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR)

Legal name

UK Water Industry Research Limited

Website

https://ukwir.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Industry Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG), Water Quality & Watershed/Hydrologic Modeling (SWMM/HEC-RAS, Flood/Runoff/Nutrient) (EUAHAKAF), Audit-Ready Controls, Assurance & Compliance Workflow Tools (CSRD/SEC/ISSB) (EUABAEAG), GHG Monitoring Plans & Sampling Design (Field Protocols, QA/QC) (EUABACAE)

Keywords

• Water sector research
• Environmental reporting tools
• Carbon accounting software
• Regulatory research services
• Utility industry collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Water Company Membership Fees: Water and wastewater companies in the UK and Ireland pay membership fees to fund UKWIR's research programs. 18 water utility companies participate as members.
2. Tool and Report Sales: Non-water company users can purchase tools and accompanying reports: Carbon Accounting Workbook at £600, Pollution Inventory Tool at £100, RED-UP tool at £250. Water company members receive free access to tools.
3. Research Publications: UKWIR sells research reports and publications. Over 1,000 open access research documents are freely available; purchased PDFs are available for other reports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UKWIR commissions, manages, and disseminates collaborative research for the UK water industry, producing sector-wide research reports and proprietary software tools (such as the Carbon Accounting Workbook, SAGIS, and CCDA). It serves as the central hub where UK water utilities and regulators jointly fund and shape pre-competitive research on topics including climate change adaptation, water quality, wastewater treatment, and asset management. Outputs are made available to members through subscriptions and to non-members via tool licensing and report purchases.

Product overview

UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) operates as the UK's leading independent research organisation for the water sector, offering a comprehensive portfolio of research tools, databases, and reporting systems. The organisation's product suite includes both publicly accessible tools and member-only platforms, organised around seven research themes targeting water services, clean water provision, natural systems protection, infrastructure resilience, net zero carbon, responsible consumption, and workforce development. Key products include the Carbon Accounting Workbook for GHG emissions reporting, SAGIS for water quality modelling, the Chemical Investigations Programme data portal, and various infrastructure management tools (Mains Cleaning, Mains/Sewer Failures Databases). UKWIR also provides specialised advisory tools including Microbiological and Toxicological Datasheets, alongside an AI-powered search functionality for their research library of over 1,000 open access publications. The organisation collaborates with environmental regulators (Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, SEPA) and academic institutions to deliver tools that integrate with platforms such as ArcGIS and SIMCAT.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in leakage achieved since 1997 through sector collaboration
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Water Sector Experts and AcademiamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Collaborative development of Carbon Accounting Workbook (CAW) in partnership with experts from water sector and academia, providing standardized approach for measuring, monitoring, and managing operational carbon emissions.
• 18 UK and Irish Water Utility CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKWIR's core members - all 18 UK and Irish water and wastewater companies fund and collaborate on UKWIR research programs, sharing funding, risk, and research outputs. Members include major utilities such as Thames Water, United Utilities, Severn Trent, Yorkshire Water, and others.
• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental regulator for England, collaborating with UKWIR on the Chemical Investigations Programme and using SAGIS-SIMCAT as primary catchment planning tool. Jointly developed Pollution Inventory Tool.
• Natural Resources WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh environmental regulator participating in Chemical Investigations Programme and using SAGIS-SIMCAT for catchment planning in Wales.
• Scottish Environment Protection AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish environmental regulator using SAGIS-SIMCAT for catchment planning in Scotland and collaborating on water quality research.
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) / Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKRI/NERC collaborates with UKWIR on future collaborative partnerships and funding opportunities for water sector research.
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPSRC co-funds collaborative research projects with UKWIR, including £2.5m project on disinfectant residual strategies between University of Sheffield and University of Glasgow.
• Cranfield UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic partner with Water Science Institute collaborating on drinking water treatment research, including pesticide degrading bacteria project led by Dr Francis Hassard.
• University of SheffieldmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPSRC collaborative research partner on drinking water distribution systems biofilm research (£2.5m project, UKWIR contribution £100k), led by Professor Joby Boxall.
• University of GlasgowmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPSRC collaborative research partner on disinfectant residual strategies in drinking water distribution systems, with Professor Cindy Smith as contact.
• University of ExetermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with Professor David Butler (Co-Director of Centre for Water Systems) and Professor Tamara Galloway (Ecotoxicology) contributing to water research.
• University of YorkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Professor Alistair Boxall (ECORISC Centre for Doctoral Training Director) researching emerging ecological and health risks from pharmaceuticals in the environment.
• University of BathmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with Professor Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern (co-director Water and Innovation Research Centre) working on environmental chemistry and wastewater-based epidemiology.
• Newcastle UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with Professor Tom Curtis (Environmental Engineering) contributing to water sector research since 1994.
• University of StirlingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with Scotland Hydro Nation Chair Professor Andrew Tyler at Scotland's International Environment Centre.
• RPS GroupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead contractor for UKWIR customer communication during supply interruption events project, delivering workshops and developing Practitioners Guide.
• Isle UtilitiessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLed Treatment Options for Storm Overflows project in collaboration with UKWIR, undertaking literature review, cost-benefit analysis, and cost model development.
• ArupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for criticality and value of data in asset management decision making project, developing Data Confidence Index and Value of Information framework.
• The Equal GroupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExpertise provider for Enhancing Equality Diversity & Inclusion in UK & Irish Water Industries research, helping organizations understand diversity barriers and showcase best practices.
• Water UKsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry body for UK water companies; UKWIR may provide member contact details to Water UK for limited purposes consistent with UKWIR's own purposes.
• HR Wallingford LtdsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSoftware developer for Climate Change and Drought Assessment Tool (CCDA), developed as part of UKWIR project 'Climate Change Modelling and the WRMP'.
• WHS (for LowFlows Enterprise)supportingTechnology or IntegrationWHS provides LowFlows Enterprise licence required to run SAGIS for specific geographical regions. Environment Agency acts as custodian for English and Welsh SAGIS models.
• Energy & Utility SkillssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater companies have signed up to Energy & Utility Skills Inclusion Commitment; UKWIR builds on this commitment for EDI research.
• Pipeline Industries GuildsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry stakeholder participating in UKWIR workshops on customer communication during supply interruption events.
• Consumer Council for WatersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerConsumer advocacy body for water customers participating in UKWIR workshops on supply interruption communication.
• Water Research CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-copyright holder of Microbiological Datasheets and Advisory Service with UKWIR.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• HR Wallingford: Specialist water and hyd infrastructure research consultancy; UKWIR's listed development partner for the Climate Change and Drought Assessment (CCDA) tool. Operates as an implementation/technical contractor in adjacent water modelling territory.
• Arup: Global engineering consultancy contracted by UKWIR to develop the Data Confidence Index and Value of Information frameworks for asset management. Engaged as a specialist delivery partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Water UK: UK water industry trade association representing utilities to government and regulators. Not a research body but a closely related industry-coordinating counterpart whose remit overlaps with UKWIR on policy advocacy and sector strategy.
• RPS Group: Consulting firm that served as UKWIR's lead contractor on the customer communication during supply interruption events project. Operates in adjacent water utility consulting territory as a delivery partner.
• Isle Utilities: Water innovation consultancy that led UKWIR's Treatment Options for Storm Overflows project. A delivery partner / challenger innovation scout with overlapping subject-matter expertise but a different commercial model.

Broad incumbents

• Water Research Centre (WRC): UK-based water sector research and consultancy organisation with a broader commercial service portfolio (laboratory testing, technical consultancy). UKWIR's listed partner on Microbiological Datasheets, making them a closely adjacent rather than directly competing body.
• CIRIA: UK construction and infrastructure research body running collaborative research programmes across water, environment and infrastructure. Similar member-funded model but with a broader built-environment remit rather than UKWIR's water-only focus.

Regional players

• Water Research Australia: Australia's water utility-funded research body, structured as a cooperative of urban water utilities. Directly comparable membership model and pre-competitive research focus, but serving the Australian/NZ market rather than the UK.
• UK Water Industry Technology Innovation Centre (UKITI): Adjacent UK water innovation capability hosted at Cranfield University (a UKWIR academic partner) and similar academic-led water innovation vehicles that channel collaborative utility research in the UK/Irish market.

Direct peers

• Water Research Foundation (WaterRF): US-based, member-funded cooperative research organisation for water utilities, operating the same pre-competitive research and tool-publication model as UKWIR. Both pool utility subscriptions to fund collaborative research programmes and produce widely adopted tools and reports.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uk_wir
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ukwir

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR)