Future Water

What Future Water does

Future Water Association is a UK not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1986 that serves as the convening body for the nation's water sector. It connects and represents the entire supply chain — from major water utilities (Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, Southern Water, Severn Trent, Wessex Water, Northumbrian Water, Welsh Water) to suppliers, manufacturers, developers, regulators (Ofwat, DWI, Environment Agency), start-ups, and emerging talent — under a single neutral platform. The organisation operates from a registered office in Kenilworth, Warwickshire and is led by CEO Paul Horton with a 9-person staff team.

The association's core offerings are programmatic rather than product-based. Revenue is generated through corporate membership subscriptions (annual, tiered by water-related turnover), sponsorship arrangements (including a Transformation Partnership with Horizon Water Infrastructure), and event registration. Its activity centres on eight working groups (Standards & Regulations, Metering & Data Insights, Leakage Prevention, Digital & Cyber Resiliency, Developer Services, Innovation & IP, Emerging Talent, Networks & Collaboration), 45 events delivered across the UK in 2025, a Water Dragons innovation competition, and policy engagement including a leading role in the Cunliffe Commission Review.

The business model is subscription-led with diversified revenue from sponsorship and events. Its competitive position rests on the neutrality of the platform, the breadth of the member network, and its regulatory access. Future Water does not hold patents, subsidiaries, or external investment, and is governed by its member base as a private limited company (registered number 07537636). The 40th anniversary in 2026 is being marked with the inaugural Future Water Awards, a Water Dragons Alumni gathering, and Version 2 of its sector Report Card.

Name

Future Water

Legal name

Future Water Association

Website

https://futurewaterassociation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Future Water Association is a UK not-for-profit, founded in 1986, that convenes the entire water sector — utilities, suppliers, regulators, and innovators — through membership, events, working groups, and the Water Dragons innovation competition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Sector Industry Association

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Water sector association
• Membership organization
• Industry working groups
• Water innovation programs
• Sector event programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenilworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Corporate membership fees form the primary revenue stream. Membership is annual, with fees based on water-related annual turnover. Corporate categories are determined by reference to the higher water related annual turnover. Parent, subsidiary and related companies are expected to apply for membership in their own right. Membership automatically renews unless written notice is provided three months prior to renewal.
2. Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities allow brands to position themselves at the heart of water sector innovation. Sponsorship tiers and benefits are published on the Association membership pages. A Transformation Partnership with Horizon Water Infrastructure has been referenced.
3. Event Registration: Events and programmes provide upsilling and expert insights from industry leaders. While many events are included with membership, some events may have associated fees. Events include webinars, technical forums, and sector deep-dives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Future Water Association is a UK not-for-profit membership organisation that convenes the water sector by selling corporate membership subscriptions, hosting events and programmes (including the Water Dragons innovation competition), facilitating working groups on standards, regulations, leakage, metering, digital resilience, and developer services, and providing sponsorship opportunities to brands seeking visibility across the water supply chain.

Product overview

Future Water Association is a not-for-profit membership organisation serving as the UK water sector's meeting place. It does not offer a commercial product or software platform. Its offerings consist of membership (with tiers offering networking, working groups, events, and policy influence), sponsorship opportunities, working groups across topics such as standards & regulations, metering & data insights, leakage prevention, digital & cyber resiliency, developer services, innovation & IP, emerging talent, and networks & collaboration, plus the Water Dragons innovation competition programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership
• Working Groups Programme
• Water Dragons Innovation Competition
• Sponsorship Programme
• Future Water Awards
• Events and Programmes

Quantifiable outcome

• 45 events delivered across the UK in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Severn Trent WatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026LoFlo framework agreement with Severn Trent - supplying NRv2 LoFlo across one of the UK's largest water networks. This collaboration was recognized as a finalist at the Water Industry Awards, demonstrating effective supplier-utility collaboration with aligned objectives, open communication, and seamless operational integration.
• Horizon Water InfrastructureflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Horizon Water Infrastructure served as Transformation Partner for 18 months, helping shape and strengthen events, releasing a three-part podcast series, and developing a whitepaper. They have been instrumental in supporting working groups, bringing energy, expertise, and commitment to collaboration. They champion transformational change the sector needs.
• OfwatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfwat's Water Innovation Fund and Water Innovation Implementation Programme partner. Future Water Association members benefit from Ofwat innovation funding opportunities including the Regulation 31 Challenge where eight finalists received £50,000 each. The association facilitates member participation in Ofwat consultations and policy development.
• Isle UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with Ofwat to deliver the Water Innovation Implementation Programme. Isle Utilities provides expertise in supporting innovation adoption and scaling across the water sector as part of this collaborative initiative.
• Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with Ofwat on the Regulation 31 Challenge to strengthen UK testing capacity. DWI provides regulatory oversight on drinking water quality and standards for materials and products in contact with drinking water.
• British WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting Ofwat's Regulation 31 Challenge which addresses critical bottleneck in testing capacity. British Water represents the water industry supply chain and supports practical proposals to help innovations reach the market at pace.
• ArupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Water Innovation Implementation Programme delivered collaboratively by Ofwat and Isle Utilities. Arup provides engineering and advisory expertise for innovation implementation across the water sector.
• Copper ConsultancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the 'Building a Societal Licence' report that pushed forward vital discussions on public trust, transparency, and the relationship between water services and society. Three webinars brought diverse voices together to explore rebuilding confidence.
• Thames WatercoreOthersMajor UK water company member of Future Water Association. Active in Black History Month events and sector collaboration initiatives.
• Yorkshire WatercoreOthersMajor UK water company member of Future Water Association. Water Company Liaison Meeting participant.
• Anglian WatercoreOthersMajor UK water company member of Future Water Association. Active in Black History Month events and Water Company Liaison Meetings.
• Wessex WatercoreOthersMajor UK water company member of Future Water Association. Water Company Liaison Meeting participant.
• Northumbrian WatercoreOthersMajor UK water company member of Future Water Association. Active in Black History Month events and Water Company Liaison Meetings.
• Dŵr Cymru Welsh WatercoreOthersMajor UK water company member of Future Water Association. Water Company Liaison Meeting participant. Scaling up Flygt Concertor pump deployment achieving 40% energy savings.
• Southern WatercoreOthersMajor UK water company member of Future Water Association. Water Company Liaison Meeting participant.
• The Equal GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiversity champions that played a central role in Black History Month events in partnership with Future Water Association and major water companies.
• The Digital Twin AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiversity champions that played a central role in Black History Month events, supporting inclusion and representation in the water sector.
• SEC Newgate UKminorOthersEvent venue partner for 'A Year in Water Review' Networks November kick-off event, bringing together members, partners, and water sector professionals.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Water UK: UK water industry trade association representing the major water companies. Directly comparable as a convening body for the same set of utilities Future Water serves, with an overlapping but CEO-level remit.
• Waterwise: UK water-efficiency NGO working with utilities, regulators and supply chain to reduce water demand. Comparable as a UK-focused, mission-driven water-sector organisation engaging the same member ecosystem.
• British Water: UK water industry trade association representing the supply chain and supporting innovation and policy engagement. Highly comparable as a membership body serving water-utility and supplier members across the UK, and is itself listed as a Future Water collaborator.
• CIWEM (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management): Chartered professional body for water and environmental professionals. Comparable as a UK membership organisation that convenes practitioners through working groups, events and policy engagement.
• Water Research Centre (WRc): Water-sector research organisation and a Future Water member participating in Water Dragons. Comparable as a UK water-sector research and innovation provider operating in the same member ecosystem.
• UKWIR (UK Water Industry Research): Collaborative research organisation owned and funded by UK water companies andWater Ireland. Comparable as a membership-funded, working-group-driven body producing outputs the same utility members consume.

Emerging players

• Isle Utilities: Innovation accelerator specialised in water-sector technology adoption, partnering with Ofwat on the Water Innovation Implementation Programme. Comparable as a delivery partner for innovation and convening work, and is explicitly a Future Water collaborator.

Broad incumbents

• Global Water Intelligence: International water-industry intelligence and events business. Comparable as a commercial sector convener with overlapping event and research offerings, but with a global rather than UK remit.
• World Water Tech Innovation Summit: International water-technology event and convening platform. Comparable as an event-driven convening format with sponsor and innovation-pitch components overlapping Water Dragons.

Others

• Ofwat: UK water-sector economic regulator. Not a peer competitively but is a critical partner (Water Innovation Fund, Regulation 31 Challenge, Water Innovation Implementation Programme) that shapes Future Water's policy and innovation agenda.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/future-water-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Future Water