Water

Trusted data sharing for
the water sector

Open standards for net zero water infrastructure

Water is a vital part of the transition to net zero. In 2020 the water industry was the first UK sector to commit to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. IB1's approach helps drive open standards adoption and create assurable data flows between water companies, regulators, and supply chain participants.

16+ water companies Ofwat funded Stream live Water Sector Trust Framework Net zero by 2030

Trust in data is essential to decarbonising the water sector. Our approach helps drive open standards adoption and create assurable data flows between organisations. IB1 operates a water sector programme and has developed a water sector Trust Framework, enabling water companies to share data securely, at scale, under common governance.

How IB1 helps water

Services for the water sector

IB1 Water

Constellation

Connect with an expert network of professionals working on water sector data governance, infrastructure, and net zero. Free to join, no approval required.

Icebreaking

Engage in governance-led discovery and design of Schemes (data sharing rulebooks) for the water sector. Co-design the rules with water companies, regulators, and technology providers.

Trust Services

Implement Schemes in your business at market scale using the IB1 Water Sector Trust Framework. Registry, Directory, Catalogue, Sandbox, and Open Libraries.

Flagship programme

Stream: the data network for water

Stream - Water Data

Stream is an Ofwat-funded, UK-wide industry initiative. IB1 is partnering with the Stream consortium to help design and deliver the ‘network of data pipes’ to share datasets in an accessible, secure, and standardised way across the water sector.

Regulator-backed

Stream is funded through the Ofwat Water Breakthrough Challenge and has won further funding rounds. It operates with the backing and engagement of the sector regulator.

Industry-wide participation

Water companies across England, Scotland, and Wales participate in Stream’s Steering Group and Advisory Groups, co-designing the rules for water sector data sharing.

IB1 governance

IB1 provides neutral secretariat, programme management, and has implemented a Water Sector Trust Framework for development. Full Icebreaking governance with Steering Group and Advisory Groups.

Open by default

All Stream outputs are published under open (CC-BY) licences. Steering Group and Advisory Group minutes are published openly online. Anyone can inspect and verify.

Read
Blueprint Executive Summary

Stream ‘Blueprint Phase’: Executive Summary for development

Read
Breakthrough Challenge

Stream wins further funding from the Ofwat Water Breakthrough Challenge

Read
IB1 joins Stream

Icebreaker One joins Stream to develop governance for water sector data sharing

Full Stream programme page
Global perspective

Watersheds as foundational infrastructure

IB1 supports the CEO Water Mandate (founded in 2007 by the UN to advance corporate water stewardship) in its efforts to implement SDG6 and SDG14.

Watershed-level data

Creating an information repository about the current and changing status of watersheds, covering water quantity, quality and access perspectives, including precipitation, groundwater, storage and inter and intra-basin transfers.

Net Positive Water Impact

Supporting the NPWI initiative to advance water quality, quantity and access in 100 basins facing high water stress. Calling on companies to publish site and watershed-level data on water use, discharge and quality in machine-readable format.

Data centre water use

For companies with data centres, publishing Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) as defined by Green Grid (litres per kWh critical IT load), so data centres in similar locations can be compared, even with different cooling technologies.

Trusted data at scale

To enable global water stewardship to scale, we call on companies to publish site and watershed-level data on water use, discharge and quality in a machine-readable and accessible manner, using open standards.

Members, collaborators, and funders

Water sector partners

Stream and the Water Sector Trust Framework are supported by water companies across England, Scotland, and Wales, alongside Ofwat and other sector bodies.

16+
Water companies participating including Anglian, Northumbrian, Yorkshire, Welsh, United Utilities, Southern, and Scottish Water
Ofwat
Regulator funding and engagement via the Water Breakthrough Challenge
2030
Water industry target for net zero carbon emissions, first UK sector to commit
Open
All Stream outputs published under CC-BY licence
Get involved

Ready to shape the future of water data?

Whether you are a water company, regulator, technology provider, or research institution, IB1 has a programme and membership level that fits.

Contact stream@ib1.org Stream programme

All IB1 outputs are CC-BY licensed. IB1 is non-partisan, non-profit, and sector-neutral.