Pioneering UK companies that are revolutionising the UK water sector

As the world gets warmer and the global population rises, the pressure on fresh water supplies is getting higher. This may seem like a problem for other countries, which can go for months without rain, but that doesn’t mean the UK is safe from climate change and pressures on fresh water (even though it might rain throughout August).

The problem isn’t simply one of a lack of fresh water, it’s also pollution which is having an impact on quality and availability.

Unfortunately, the issues are being compounded by poor management from some of the biggest companies operating in the UK water sector, as Severn Trent, Southern Water, Wessex Water, and Yorkshire Water have all come under scrutiny for causing ‘Serious pollution incidents which damage the local environment, threaten wildlife and, in the worst cases, put the public at risk have increased.’Environmental Agency

Despite the inadequate management of some water companies, others are attempting to revolutionise the sector.

Cambridge Cleantech

Cambridge Cleantech is an organisation developing international connections with some of the most innovative companies from the Middle East, in order to bring the best technologies to the UK.

The organisation already has strong ties to teams working on a diverse range of initiatives which are focused on improving the treatment and delivery of water including:


Neuron is a start-up business which utilises the latest microfiber technology to capture data and monitor the condition of sewage facilities and piping.

The company has been working with the European Union in the hope of rolling out its tech across the continent so that huge pollution leaks become less regular.

Claire Fenwick, Managing Director of Neuron, said:

‘For water companies, our technology enables a transformation to proactive and predictive management, which means a reduction in blockages, pollution incidents, and operational cost.’


Arqiva is a business that operates across a number of sectors including TV, Radio, and telecoms. However, the business has also developed smart water meters, which is why we’re including it on this list.

The smart meters work in a similar fashion to the ones used to measure electrical and gas usage in a home, but the difference is that they aren’t used in a home, they are used across the water network by the likes of Thames Water.

The meters collect data and measure a huge amount of information which can be fed back to the major water companies significantly faster than they used to be able to, as fiber optic technology and telecom tech are used. This allows for leaks to be found and stopped, saving thousands of gallons of water each year.

A huge amount of work remains for the UK water sector as many of the biggest players in the sector are not delivering on their promises to reduce leaks and pollution, something which cannot continue as the climate changes and the population increases.
