In January, we reconvened Stream’s Steering Group which comprises experts that represent water companies, regulators, research, innovation bodies and government. 

Co-chaired by Icebreaker One and NWL, the group’s primary function is to help provide leadership and market signalling. Oversight of, and endorsement from, this group will establish a lasting set of robust governance measures to ensure data is shared safely and with the correct regulations.

Date: 27 January 2026 10:00-12:00 GMT

Location: online

Co-Chairs: Melissa Tallack (NWL); Gavin Starks (IB1)

Meeting Aims: 

  • Members provide direction to Stream on priorities emerging from company 1-1s
  • Clear ambition and alignment on the vision for Stream

Summary:

Minutes:

  • It was noted that:
    • Operational updates for 2026 are progressing, including intranet launch and minor operating model refinements
    • Ofwat completed meetings with all water companies, noting that strong progress has been enabled by Stream and identifying sector‑wide themes including internal data portals, maturity assessment use, value measurement, and transparency of roadmaps.
    • Upcoming regulatory changes from DEFRA’s white paper and wider government initiatives (Smart Data Council, National Data Library, NESO/RECO developments) will have material impact on future data flows and interoperability requirements.
    • There was broad support for the ODI maturity model as a shared baseline. Members felt it provides practical benchmarking, comparability and a lighter process than previous audits.
  • It was agreed that:
    • Stream will prioritise work on the four sector themes presented by Ofwat (in order of priority):
      • Standardised maturity assessment (e.g. using the ODI Open Data Maturity Assessment for Open Data).
      • Alignment on company data portals and approaches to internal/external data publishing.
      • Value measurement framework for open/shared data.
      • Greater transparency of company roadmaps.
    • Members will reflect on the long‑term direction of Stream as a Data Institution, to inform future governance and strategic decisions.
  • It was discussed that:
    • The transition from Stream today to a Data Institution requires a clearer narrative for members, ensuring a clear understanding of the different layers of governance, operational maturity, and interoperability with the wider ecosystem.
    • Stream must be capable of connecting with wider UK data sharing initiatives, both within the water sector and cross-sector.
    • Its socio‑technical approach was seen as a strength versus more tech‑heavy models elsewhere.
    • Strong consensus that use cases should continue driving design decisions.
      • Use cases like continuous water quality monitoring will test how far Stream should move beyond raw data to provide analytics/visualisation and a guided interpretation.
    • There is a need for early visibility of future expectations (e.g., open monitoring) to avoid inefficiencies seen in recent reporting requirements. Stream could act as a coordinated route into regulators.