UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) Information

UKWIR facilitates collaborative research for UK water and wastewater companies on 'one voice'​ issues. UKWIR was established by the UK water industry 22 years ago, to provide a framework for the procurement of a common research programme to address industry-wide issues. UKWIR's subscribers comprise 21 water and sewerage undertakers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. UKWIR’s objectives are to: • Identify research requirements to meet the water industry's strategic business needs; • Procure the research competitively; • Work with the water industry's regulators; • Provide value for money for the contributors; and • Transfer the research outputs to contributors. Our research programme is currently divided into the following topic areas: drinking water quality and health; toxicology; water resources; climate change; wastewater treatment and sewerage; sewage sludge; water mains and services; sewerage; leakage and metering; as well as customer and regulatory issues. Our work is often in collaboration with government departments and regulators including, Defra, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environment Agency. We also collaborate with international research organisations.