What SWIG does

SWIG (Sensors for Water Interest Group) is a UK-based not-for-profit community organization established in 1993 and incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee in 1996. The organization convenes the water sensor technology ecosystem, bringing together water utilities, sensor manufacturers and distributors, academic institutions, regulatory bodies, and consultants for knowledge exchange, technical workshops, and industry networking. It does not develop proprietary sensor technology or commercial products; its function is to operate as an information and ideas-exchange platform serving the UK and European water sector.

SWIG's core activities consist of a recurring program of 7+ technical workshops per year and a biennial Sensing in Water conference, delivered across UK locations (London, Bristol, Sheffield, Manchester) and increasingly via Microsoft Teams webinars. Workshops cover topics including biosensors, electrochemical and optical sensors, real-time monitoring platforms, microbial detection, AI and data analytics, and digital solutions for water quality surveillance. The organization is governed by a board of directors elected by members at the Annual General Meeting, with administration handled by a Programme Manager and Board Secretary. Board composition deliberately balances representation from water companies, manufacturers, academia, and regulators.

SWIG's revenue model is built on three streams: annual membership fees tiered by organization size from £103 (Individual) to £811 (Large Corporate >250 employees); event and workshop fees ranging from £33 (students) to £262 (non-members) plus tabletop exhibitions; and event sponsorships priced at £1,300 per workshop. Members also receive exclusive access to past workshop presentations through a member portal. Sponsorship support is provided by manufacturers including ABB, In-Situ, Xylem, and others. The organization does not take venture capital, has no parent company, and operates on a non-profit basis with revenue reinvested into programming and community activities.

Name

SWIG

Legal name

Sensors for Water Interest Group

Website

https://swig.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SWIG is a UK-based not-for-profit community organization founded in 1993 that convenes water utilities, sensor manufacturers, academics, regulators, and consultants through technical workshops, webinars, and a biennial Sensing in Water conference. It operates as an information and networking platform, not a product company.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Monitoring, Sensors & Instrumentation (SCADA-integrated analyzers, probes, samplers) (EUANAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Network Monitoring & Smart Water Sensors (Pressure/Flow/Noise Loggers, IoT) (EUANAKAB), Continuous/Remote Monitoring Systems (IoT Sensors, Telemetry, Networks) (EUAHACAL), Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality) (HDAHALAD)

Keywords

• Water sensor networking
• Industry workshops and conferences
• Membership community platform
• Water sector knowledge exchange
• Technical event organization

Headquarters

HQ city

UK

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees based on organization size ranging from Individual (£103) to Large Corporate over 250 employees (£811). Membership provides delegate rate discounts at workshops and conferences, exclusive member-only content access, exhibition and speaking opportunities at events, and access to the Water Control Room Forum (W-CRF).
2. Event and Workshop Fees: Workshop fees: £136 for members, £262 for non-members, £33 for students. Tabletop exhibitions at £262-524. Literature circulation at £103. Conference tickets range from £160-355 depending on membership status and duration.
3. Sponsorship: Workshop sponsorship opportunities at £1,300. Event sponsorships from member companies including ABB, In-Situ, Xylem, UD Live, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SWIG (Sensors for Water Interest Group) is a not-for-profit information, ideas-exchange, and networking group that provides a community platform for the water sensor sector. It delivers technical workshops, webinars, and a biennial Sensing in Water conference, along with annual memberships that grant access to exclusive content, discounted event rates, and networking opportunities. SWIG does not develop proprietary sensor products but serves as the convening organization connecting water utilities, sensor manufacturers, academic institutions, regulators, and consultants.

Product overview

SWIG (Sensors for Water Interest Group) is a not-for-profit community organization, not a product company. It provides a networking and knowledge-exchange platform for the water sensor technology sector, offering workshops, conferences, webinars, and a biennial Sensing in Water conference. The organization facilitates connections among water companies, sensor manufacturers, academic researchers, regulatory bodies, and consultants working in water management. SWIG's activities focus on advancing the understanding and use of sensors in water and wastewater processes, water networks, and the natural environment through collaborative events and information sharing. The organization does not offer proprietary software products, platforms, or technology solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SWIG Membership Annual memberships for individuals, academics, and corporate organizations (tiered by employee size) granting delegate-rate discounts at workshops and conferences, exclusive member-portal content access, exhibition and speaking opportunities, and access to the Water Control Room Forum (W-CRF). Membership runs annually from April to April.
• Technical Workshops Approximately seven technical workshops per year covering water sensor topics such as biosensors, electrochemical and optical sensors, real-time monitoring, microbial detection, AI and data analytics, and digital water-quality surveillance. Workshops are held in UK locations and online, with delegate fees of £136 (members), £262 (non-members), and £33 (students).
• Sensing in Water Biennial Conference SWIG's premier biennial conference for the water sensor community, gathering water companies, manufacturers, academics, regulators, and consultants to share developments and innovations.
• Member Portal Online portal for individual employees of member organizations to access exclusive member-only content, including presentations from past workshops.
• Workshop and Event Sponsorship Sponsorship packages for sensor manufacturers and industry partners to gain visibility at SWIG workshops and events, with workshop sponsorship priced at £1,300 and tabletop exhibition spaces at £262-£524.

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• W-CRF (Water Control Room Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWIG is affiliated with the Water Control Room Forum (W-CRF), providing members access to W-CRF events and tabletop exhibition spaces. W-CRF extends SWIG's reach within the water industry community.
• WWT (Water & Wastewater Treatment)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership providing SWIG members with exclusive discounts for WWT events and conferences, expanding networking opportunities.
• WWEMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partnership providing SWIG members with exclusive discounts for WWEM events, expanding access to industry knowledge and networking.
• SWAN (Smart Water Networks Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWAN Forum ambassador partnership. Dr Mike Strahand serves as a SWAN Forum ambassador, linking SWIG with the smart water networks community.
• AquaenvirominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing SWIG members with exclusive discounts for Aquaenviro events, expanding access to industry knowledge and networking opportunities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• IWA Publishing: Publishing arm of the International Water Association producing water-sector journals and books. Adjacent comparator as a knowledge-distribution platform serving similar water-sector technical audiences with publishing and content rather than events/networking.

Broad incumbents

• International Water Association (IWA): Global non-profit network of water professionals. Comparable as an international water-sector community organization with events and knowledge exchange, but with much broader scope than SWIG's UK-centric, sensor-specific remit.
• UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR): UK collaborative research organization funded by water utilities. Comparable as a UK water sector knowledge-exchange body serving similar members (water utilities, regulators), but with a research focus rather than SWIG's sensor-specific community orientation.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF): US-based international water quality technical and educational organization. Comparable as a large water-sector professional community with events, training, and publications; operates globally but with broader mandate than SWIG's sensor specialization.
• Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM): UK professional body for water and environmental management professionals. Comparable as a UK water sector membership/community organization serving overlapping audiences, but broader in scope than SWIG's sensor technology focus.

Direct peers

• Aquaenviro: UK water and environmental events organizer and media partner. Directly comparable as a UK water-sector events business; SWIG partners with Aquaenviro for member discounts on overlapping events, indicating shared audience and event-driven model.
• Water & Wastewater Treatment (WWT) / Faversham House: UK water industry magazine and events organizer. Comparable as a UK water sector media/events business serving overlapping audiences; SWIG has a formal media partnership with WWT offering member discounts.
• SWAN Forum (Smart Water Networks Forum): Global non-profit forum for smart water networks. Directly comparable as a water-sector technology community organization with shared mission, overlapping membership, and SWIG's Chair serving as a SWAN Forum ambassador.
• Water Control Room Forum (W-CRF): UK-based forum for water control room operations. SWIG is formally affiliated with W-CRF and offers mutual member access, making it a directly comparable and partially overlapping community organization for water sector operational technology professionals.

Emerging players

• Water Research Centre (WRc): UK water sector research and consultancy organization. Partially comparable as a water-sector knowledge provider with SWIG board representation from WRc; however WRc is primarily a commercial research/consultancy business rather than a membership community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/watersensors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sensors-for-water-interest-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

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 SWIG