OUR RIVERS GROUP LTD

What OUR RIVERS GROUP LTD does

Our Rivers Group Ltd, founded in 2021 by hydrogeologist Sarah Belton and headquartered in Newport (Shropshire), UK, delivers free septic tank upgrades to homeowners in Natural England–designated Nutrient Neutrality catchments across Norfolk and Cumbria. The group's two wholly-owned subsidiaries — Our Rivers (Norfolk) Limited and Our Rivers (Cumbria) Limited — operate a single core service: assessing eligible off-mains properties, securing long-term legal agreements through partner HCR Law, and installing Package Wastewater Treatment Plants (PTPs) via regional delivery partners Hutchinson Environmental Solutions, Septic Tanks Northwest (Cumbria) and Binder (Norfolk). PTPs replace older septic tanks with multi-stage biological treatment chambers that reduce phosphorus and nutrient discharges into sensitive waterbodies including the Wensum, the Norfolk Broads, River Eden SAC, Derwent and Bassenthwaite, River Kent, and Esthwaite Water.

The company monetises through two channels: local-authority contracts (Westmorland and Furness Council has awarded two contracts to the group, one of which is held by Our Rivers) and sales of nutrient neutrality credits to housing developers who must offset pollution impacts to win planning consent in these catchments. A stated share of credit-sale profits is reinvested into partner Rivers Trusts (Eden, West Cumbria, South Cumbria, Norfolk) and the Wensum Catchment Partnership, creating a community-funded river restoration loop. The upgrade itself is free to eligible homeowners with no hidden costs and includes an initial servicing period.

As of early 2026 the company has paused new Cumbria enquiries following WINEP-driven wastewater treatment works upgrades that materially redrew the Nutrient Neutrality catchment boundaries, while Norfolk operations continue. The group has no disclosed external funding and remains a privately held, micro-cap operation of 1–10 employees.

Name

OUR RIVERS GROUP LTD

Legal name

Our Rivers Group Limited

Website

https://ourrivers.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Our Rivers Group Ltd, a UK private company founded in 2021, runs free septic tank upgrade schemes in Natural England Nutrient Neutrality catchments in Norfolk and Cumbria, monetising via local-authority contracts and nutrient credit sales to housing developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Services

NAICS

Septic Tank and Related Services (562991)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Septage Receiving, Treatment & Disposal (BPALAMAE)

Keywords

• Septic tank upgrades
• Nutrient neutrality credits
• Wastewater treatment services
• Catchment management
• Environmental compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Septic Tank Upgrades: Our Rivers delivers free septic tank upgrades funded by local authority contracts (Westmorland and Furness Council awarded two contracts). The scheme is part of nutrient neutrality mitigation requirements for new housing developments in designated catchments.
2. Nutrient Credit Sales: Revenue generated from selling nutrient credits to housing developers who need to offset nutrient pollution impacts. A significant proportion of profits are reinvested into river restoration through eNGO partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Our Rivers Group Ltd delivers free septic tank upgrade schemes to homeowners situated in nutrient neutrality catchments and monetises the resulting nutrient credits by selling them to housing developers discharging planning conditions. It also operates paid upgrade contracts with local authorities, such as its Westmorland and Furness Council scheme in Cumbria.

Product overview

Our Rivers Group Ltd operates a free septic tank upgrade scheme across Norfolk and Cumbria catchments. The company offers a single unified service that coordinates the entire upgrade process from initial assessment through installation of Package Treatment Systems, including handling all legal agreements and paperwork. They reinvest a proportion of nutrient credit sales into local river restoration projects through partner Rivers Trusts. The company also provides informational content about General Binding Rules compliance and Package Treatment Plant technology through their blog. The group consists of the parent company Our Rivers Group Limited and two subsidiaries: Our Rivers (Norfolk) Limited and Our Rivers (Cumbria) Limited.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Norfolk Septic Tank Upgrade Scheme Free septic tank replacement / treatment plant upgrade service for homeowners in the Norfolk (River Wensum) catchment, delivered via approved installers; generates nutrient credits that are sold onwards to developers needing planning offsets.
• Cumbria Septic Tank Upgrade Scheme Free septic tank replacement and treatment plant upgrade scheme for homeowners in Cumbria catchments, delivered via the Our Rivers (Cumbria) Limited subsidiary.
• Westmorland and Furness Council Septic Tank Upgrade Contract Paid local authority contract for the delivery of septic tank upgrades to homeowners across the Westmorland and Furness Council area, improving water quality while generating nutrient credits.
• Nutrient Neutrality Credits Verified nutrient neutrality credits sold to UK housing developers and planning consultancies to discharge planning conditions and unlock residential development in constrained catchments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced phosphorus and nutrient levels in waterways
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• HCR LawcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal expertise partner providing specialist legal support for navigating environmental regulation and land agreements. HCR Law helps build the legal agreements that underpin long-term environmental protection, ensuring mitigation sites are secure and compliant for the future.
• Cumbria Nutrient NeutralitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Westmorland and Furness Council, Cumberland Council and the Lake District National Park Authority. Their mission is to ensure new developments in the region do not worsen nutrient pollution in sensitive catchments. Our Rivers provides septic tank upgrades for nutrient mitigation.
• Westmorland and Furness CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal planning authority that shapes environmental policy and community engagement. Awarded two contracts for septic tank upgrades in Cumbria's nutrient neutrality catchments, one to Our Rivers.
• Hutchinson Environmental SolutionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNational leader in off-mains wastewater treatment since 1973. Through Our Rivers, Hutchinsons completes site survey reports, installations and annual servicing and maintenance for Cumbrian clients.
• Septic Tanks NorthwestcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-established family business in North Lancashire providing experience in installing treatment plants, rising mains and drainage fields. Supports Hutchinsons with on-the-ground site surveys and installation work.
• Eden Rivers TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity championing River Eden's protection and enhancement since 1996. Our Rivers reinvests a proportion of profits into Eden River restoration projects and local communities.
• West Cumbria Rivers TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning charity protecting and restoring rivers across West Cumbria since 2009. Works with landowners, farmers, schools and communities. Our Rivers reinvests a proportion of profits into West Cumbrian restoration projects.
• South Cumbria Rivers TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings together professionals, volunteers and partners dedicated to conserving and improving lakes, rivers and streams in South Cumbria. Our Rivers reinvests a proportion of profits into local river restoration initiatives.
• Norfolk Environmental CreditscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit joint venture formed by Norfolk district councils to provide nutrient mitigation solutions. Our Rivers supports their work by delivering septic tank upgrades for nutrient mitigation that offsets impacts from new development.
• Norfolk Rivers TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to restore chalk streams, wetlands and river habitats across Norfolk since 2011. Our Rivers reinvests a proportion of profits into Norfolk restoration projects.
• Wensum Catchment PartnershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates monitoring, data collection and environmental improvements across the Wensum catchment. Their data helps Our Rivers target mitigation where it delivers greatest environmental benefit.
• BindercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing family business on Suffolk and Norfolk border trusted for over 60 years in off-mains drainage. From system design to installation and ongoing maintenance. For Our Rivers, Binder delivers surveys, installations and servicing for Norfolk clients.
• Simple Living EcosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Simple Living Eco to provide customers with sample eco-friendly laundry products and discount codes. Products are kind to septic systems and the environment, supporting proper treatment and system longevity.
• Lake District National Park AuthoritysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Cumbria Nutrient Neutrality partnership working to ensure new developments do not worsen nutrient pollution in the Lake District area.
• Cumberland CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Cumbria Nutrient Neutrality partnership working to ensure new developments do not worsen nutrient pollution in Cumbria catchments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Severn Trent Water: Large UK water and wastewater utility serving the Midlands — comparable as a regulated utility facing the same nutrient neutrality and WINEP drivers that shape Our Rivers' addressable market, and operates in rural catchments with similar off-mains drainage profiles.
• United Utilities: Water and wastewater utility covering the North West including Cumbria — operates in the same region as Our Rivers' Cumbria operations and is directly affected by WINEP / Water Industry Act wastewater treatment upgrades that triggered Our Rivers' catchment boundary changes.
• Anglian Water: Water and wastewater utility covering Norfolk and broader East Anglia — overlaps with Our Rivers on wastewater management and nutrient discharge concerns in the same operating geography, but as a large regulated utility rather than a specialised upgrade provider.
• South West Water: Water and wastewater utility covering Devon, Cornwall and parts of Somerset — directly relevant as another regional utility addressing nutrient pollution from rural septic systems in sensitive catchments comparable to those Our Rivers targets.
• Wessex Water: Water and wastewater utility in the South West that has been actively involved in nutrient neutrality schemes (e.g., Somerset Levels) — overlaps with Our Rivers on the broader nutrient mitigation problem set, particularly in catchments Our Rivers references in its marketing.

Regional players

• Cumbria Nutrient Neutrality Partnership: Partnership of Westmorland and Furness Council, Cumberland Council and the Lake District National Park Authority that coordinates nutrient neutrality mitigation in Cumbria — referenced as Our Rivers' commissioning counterparty and the governing framework for the same nutrient credit market.

Direct peers

• Septic Tanks Northwest: Family-run installation business in North Lancashire installing treatment plants, rising mains and drainage fields — provides on-the-ground installation services for Our Rivers in Cumbria and sells comparable upgrades directly to homeowners in the same region.
• Hutchinson Environmental Solutions: National off-mains wastewater treatment specialist operating since 1973 that conducts site surveys, installations and servicing for Our Rivers; provides the same Package Treatment Plant installation service Our Rivers funds, to a similar homeowner customer base.
• Norfolk Environmental Credits: Not-for-profit joint venture of Norfolk district councils that delivers nutrient mitigation solutions in Norfolk — the exact same geography and customer segment Our Rivers serves, and listed as an Our Rivers partner, making it the closest comparable.
• Binder: Long-standing off-mains drainage installer on the Suffolk/Norfolk border (60+ years) delivering surveys, installations and servicing for Our Rivers; offers the same septic-to-treatment-plant upgrade service directly to homeowners in an adjacent geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 OUR RIVERS GROUP LTD