techUK water sector “vision”: Building the system requirements for a modern, resilient water sector

techUK’s vision for a fully digitalised, transparent and future-ready water system – positioning technology, data and innovation as core enablers of reform.

Positioned as a once-in-a-generation opportunity, techUK sets out the outcomes, accountabilities and enablers needed to translate government reform into a truly modern, digitised water system.

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What the report covers

The water sector in England faces significant challenges: an ageing asset base, mounting climate pressures, water scarcity projections and a loss of public trust following years of under-performance. The Government's reform agenda presents a clear window to address these, but only if the right system requirements are established.

This report sets out techUK's vision for a fully modern, digitalised and resilient water sector. It defines four concrete system requirements, identifies who is accountable for delivery, and explains what the technological and regulatory enablers must be, thereby giving the Government, regulators and industry a shared organising framework for translating policy into actionable change.

What’s inside the report

Context and government reform

The white paper's five reform themes and what comes next – the 2026 Transition Plan and Clean Water Bill.

Four system requirements for the sector

Real-time visibility, demand control, long-term resilience planning, and early performance intervention.

Recommendations by stakeholder

Specific actions for the new regulator, the Government, and industry to enable delivery.

Delivery challenges and responses

A structured analysis of barriers, enabling technologies, policy levers and key actors.

Smart Infrastructure and Systems Programme activities

techUK champion the role of technology in driving positive outcomes in our built infrastructure; from hitting net zero goals to improving safety. In doing so, we also optimise the commercial and regulatory landscape to ensure innovation in infrastructure can flourish. Visit the programme page here