Water Management Alliance

What Water Management Alliance does

The Water Management Alliance (WMA) is a consortium of eight Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) and six associate boards, established in 2008 and headquartered in King's Lynn, England. Operating as a statutory public body under the Land Drainage Act 1991, it delivers water level management and flood risk management across more than 3,700 kilometres of watercourse and 306,299 hectares of catchment spanning South Lincolnshire, East Anglia, the South East, and (from June 2026) parts of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire. Its core service lines include civil engineering, coastal engineering, watercourse maintenance, environmental services, MEICA (mechanical and electrical engineering for pumping stations), natural flood management, development control, and shared GIS mapping and telemetry. Notable technical assets include fish-friendly pumping stations, remote telemetry systems, and an interactive GIS mapping platform covering board boundaries, works programmes, capital works and electoral boundaries.

The WMA generates operating income through three principal revenue streams: statutory drainage rates levied annually on ratepayers within each IDB district based on property rateable values, special levies charged to local authorities, and project-specific funding from the Environment Agency and other partners. Capital project delivery is funded primarily through Environment Agency Grant-in-Aid, with current major schemes including the £48.3 million Upper Thurne Integrated Drainage Improvement Project (replacing 11 pumping stations protecting 708 properties and 6,300 hectares), the multi-year Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project (protecting 35 homes, 46 businesses, the A12 and 600 hectares of farmland), the Magdalen Fen Strategy Project (£3.677 million EA grant), and the Exeter Drain Improvement Project (over £164 million in avoided flood damages). Development contributions provide a transactional one-off revenue stream tied to new construction discharging surface water within IDB districts.

The consortium model delivers engineering, environmental, GIS, development control, governance and financial shared services across member boards, with 51–100 employees supporting both recurring operational delivery and large capital programmes. Key partners include BAM Nuttall, Balfour Beatty, Stantec, Jacobs, Turner & Townsend, Breheny Civil Engineers, Bedford Pumps, and ECS Engineering Services. The organisation is governed under the leadership of Chief Executive Marcus Coleman and Chair Sam Markillie MBE, holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, and operates as a non-profit public statutory entity rather than a commercially traded company.

Name

Water Management Alliance

Legal name

Water Management Alliance

Website

https://wlma.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Water Management Alliance is a consortium of eight statutory Internal Drainage Boards delivering water level and flood risk management across 3,700+ km of watercourse in England, funded by drainage rates, special levies and Environment Agency grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flood Risk and Water Management Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Detention, Retention & Storage Systems (Ponds, Tanks, Vaults) (EUANAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Real-Time Monitoring & Smart Stormwater (Sensors, SCADA/IoT, RTC) (EUANAEAK), Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Asset Management (EUAEAMAH), Design & Engineering for Renewal/Expansion (Pipelines, Pump Stations, Treatment Plants) (EUANALAD), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Flood risk management
• Water level management
• Drainage infrastructure services
• Coastal engineering services
• Internal drainage boards

Headquarters

HQ city

King's Lynn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Drainage Rates: Annual drainage rates levied on ratepayers within each IDB district based on property rateable values. Property owners within the Internal Drainage District pay drainage rates to fund water level management services.
2. Special Levies: Special levies charged to local authorities within the IDB district. These contribute to funding water management services and infrastructure maintenance.
3. Environment Agency Grant-in-Aid Funding: Capital project funding received from the Environment Agency for specific infrastructure projects, such as the £3,677,352 Grant-in-Aid for the Magdalen Fen Strategy Project.
4. Development Contributions: One-off charges placed on developments requiring discharge of surface water to the drainage district. Reflects potential costs for managing additional runoff from new impermeable areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Water Management Alliance is a consortium of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) delivering water level management and flood risk management services across South Lincolnshire, East Anglia, and the South East of England. It operates and maintains arterial watercourses, pumping stations, and drainage infrastructure, while also providing development consent, environmental, mapping, and civil/mechanical engineering services through shared specialist teams.

Product overview

Water Management Alliance (WMA) is a consortium of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) providing water level and flood risk management services across South Lincolnshire, East Anglia, and the South East. The organization offers a portfolio of services including Civil Engineering, Coastal Engineering, Watercourse Maintenance, Environmental Services, MEICA (Mechanical & Electrical Engineering), Natural Flood Management, and Partnership Working. The WMA delivers major capital projects such as the Upper Thurne Integrated Drainage Improvement Project, Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project, Magdalen Fen Strategy Project, and Exeter Drain Improvement Project. Services are provided through member boards covering Broads IDB, King's Lynn IDB, Norfolk Rivers IDB, South Holland IDB, East Suffolk WMB, Waveney Lower Yare & Lothingland IDB, and Pevensey & Cuckmere WLMB.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Civil Engineering Civil engineering services for water management infrastructure including pumping stations, watercourses, and water control structures, delivered to member boards and partner authorities.
• Coastal Engineering Coastal engineering services for flood defence and coastal protection projects, provided to member boards and partner authorities.
• Watercourse Maintenance Maintenance services for watercourses, drainage systems, and arterial watercourses across the WMA network.
• Environmental Services Environmental management services including ecological surveys, biodiversity protection, and environmental compliance for water management operations.
• MEICA (Mechanical and Electrical Engineering) Mechanical and electrical engineering services for pumping stations and water control infrastructure operated by member boards.
• Natural Flood Management Natural flood management solutions using environmental and ecological approaches to flood risk reduction across catchments.
• Development and Consent Services Regulation of development and drainage management including land drainage consent, byelaws enforcement, planning application consultation, and development contribution charges.
• Mapping Services Interactive board maps and GIS mapping tools showing catchment boundaries, drainage districts, pumping stations, watercourses, and water control structures for each member board.
• Exeter Drain Improvement Project Improvement works to Exeter Drain in Spalding including culvert replacement and lining, and open channel replacement to reduce surface water flood risk, protecting 692 residential and several non-residential properties.
• Benacre and Kessingland Flood Management Project Flood management project protecting 35 homes, 46 businesses, the A12 and 600 hectares of farmland from tidal and surface water flooding in Suffolk, including coastal realignment and intertidal marsh habitat creation.
• Upper Thurne Integrated Drainage Improvement Project Major investment replacing or refurbishing 11 pumping stations within the River Thurne catchment, protecting over 6,300 hectares of Broads district and 708 properties.
• Magdalen Fen Strategy Project Drainage improvement project protecting 119 homes, businesses, SSSI land and agricultural fenland by replacing infrastructure including pumping stations and culverts in the Magdalen area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 708 properties protected across Upper Thurne catchment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• BAM NuttallcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026BAM Nuttall was awarded a £9.5 million contract to deliver three replacement pumping stations (Martham, Potter Heigham, and Brograve) as part of the Upper Thurne Flood Risk Management Project. The NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract was signed on 14 April 2026, with works programmed through to September 2028. The contract covers design and construction of new pumping stations including civil, mechanical, and electrical improvements.
• JacobsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Engineering consultancy for Brograve Pumping Station Replacement project as part of Upper Thurne Integrated Drainage Improvement Project.
• Turner & TownsendmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Project management consultancy for Brograve Pumping Station Replacement project as part of Upper Thurne Integrated Drainage Improvement Project.
• Breheny Civil EngineerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2025Civil engineering contractor partner for the Magdalen Fen Strategy Project, delivering infrastructure improvements including pumping station upgrades and culvert replacements.
• Bedford Pumps LtdcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2025Pump supplier for the Magdalen Fen Strategy Project, providing pumping equipment for drainage infrastructure upgrades.
• ECS Engineering ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2025Engineering services partner for the Magdalen Fen Strategy Project, contributing to pumping station mechanical and electrical works.
• StanteccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2025Engineering consultancy partner for the Magdalen Fen Strategy Project, providing technical expertise for drainage improvement works.
• Balfour BeattycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Primary contractor for the Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project, delivering coastal engineering and flood defence construction works from Spring 2025 to Summer 2030.
• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Key funding partner and statutory body for flood risk management projects. Provides Grant-in-Aid funding for capital projects including Upper Thurne (£48.3 million programme) and Benacre & Kessingland projects. Responsible for main river management and national flood defence investment programme (£1.4 billion for 2026/27).
• Anglian (Eastern) Regional Flood & Coastal CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Funding partner for Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project, contributing to coastal and flood risk management investments.
• Suffolk County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Funding partner and local authority partner for Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project.
• East Suffolk CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Local authority partner and funding contributor for Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project.
• Sizewell CmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Funding partner for Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project as part of nuclear power station infrastructure investment in the region.
• Benacre EstatemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Landowner partner for Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project, collaborating on coastal realignment scheme and habitat creation.
• Parkdean ResortsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project, with embankment and pumping station works around the Parkdean Resorts holiday village in Kessingland.
• Oxford ArchaeologyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchaeological consultancy engaged for Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project to conduct archaeological investigations during construction phase.
• Lincolnshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Exeter Drain Improvement Project, working with WMA and Environment Agency on flood risk management for Spalding area.
• Middle Level CommissionerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighbouring drainage authority whose Main Drain serves as navigation channel and affects gravity discharge capacity for Magdalen catchment in Magdalen Fen Strategy Project.
• Bedfordshire and River Ivel Internal Drainage BoardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of three predecessor boards amalgamated to form Upper Ouse Water Management Board, which joined WMA in June 2026.
• Buckinghamshire and River Ouzel Internal Drainage BoardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of three predecessor boards amalgamated to form Upper Ouse Water Management Board, which joined WMA in June 2026.
• Alconbury and Ellington Internal Drainage BoardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of three predecessor boards amalgamated to form Upper Ouse Water Management Board, which joined WMA in June 2026.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Environment Agency: The UK's statutory regulator for flood risk management and the principal grant funder for WMA's capital projects. Comparable as the overarching public authority governing main rivers, flood defence investment, and coastal protection across England, with which WMA member boards partner and from which they receive Grant-in-Aid funding.
• Anglian Water: The regional water and sewerage utility serving the same East Anglia geography as several WMA member boards. Comparable as a regulated water utility operating in overlapping catchments, though focused on potable water supply and wastewater treatment rather than land drainage and flood risk management.
• Severn Trent: Major UK water utility operating across the Midlands with regulated water and wastewater services. Comparable as a regional water company in the same broad utilities category as WMA's water management functions, though focused on municipal water supply rather than land drainage.

Regional players

• Kent County Council (Flood Risk Management): Lead Local Flood Authority for Kent operating drainage and flood risk functions in a different English region from WMA. Comparable as a public-sector body exercising statutory flood risk management duties, but serving a separate geography rather than directly competing for WMA's drainage rate base.

Others

• Jacobs: Engineering consultancy engaged on the Brograve Pumping Station Replacement project as part of WMA's Upper Thurne programme. Comparable as a flood and water infrastructure consultancy supporting UK drainage authorities, though contracted to deliver technical services rather than operating its own drainage districts.
• Stantec: Global engineering consultancy engaged by WMA as the engineering partner on the Magdalen Fen Strategy Project. Comparable as a technical advisor and contractor in the UK water and flood risk management sector, though operating in a vendor capacity rather than as a service delivery peer.
• Natural England: Statutory nature conservation body advising on environmental designations relevant to WMA's Broads, SSSI, and intertidal marsh projects. Comparable as an ecosystem partner whose environmental compliance remit shapes WMA's project design, rather than a direct competitor in drainage services.
• Balfour Beatty: Primary contractor delivering the Benacre & Kessingland Flood Management Project for WMA from 2025 to 2030. Comparable as a Tier 1 infrastructure delivery partner in the UK flood and coastal defence sector, engaged by WMA on a contract basis rather than competing for the same statutory drainage mandate.
• DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs): UK government department setting flood and coastal erosion risk management policy, funding the Environment Agency, and shaping the legislative framework under which WMA operates. Comparable as the ultimate policy sponsor of the IDB sector, rather than a commercial service peer.

Direct peers

• Middle Level Commissioners: A neighbouring Internal Drainage Board and navigation authority covering the Middle Level catchment in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Directly comparable as a statutory drainage authority operating Main Drains that affect WMA's gravity discharge capacity for the Magdalen catchment, and a mutual partner on the Magdalen Fen Strategy Project.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/The_WMA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX27AiYU6ODF3zrUDewYMnw
• Facebookfacebook.com/WaterManagementAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/water-management-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_wma

Compliance2 records

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 Water Management Alliance