Open monitoring for water: peril and possibility
Public trust in water companies is at a historic low, driven by environmental concerns, rising bills, and increased scrutiny.
At the same time, regulators and government are pushing for a fundamental shift toward open monitoring, a new model of near real-time, publicly accessible environmental and operational data.
This exclusive report explores what that transformation really means for the water sector.
At the same time, regulators and government are pushing for a fundamental shift toward open monitoring, a new model of near real-time, publicly accessible environmental and operational data.
This exclusive report explores what that transformation really means for the water sector.
Based on research conducted between January and May 2026, this report combines:
Contributions from 40+ senior water sector stakeholders
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of current capabilities and challenges
Interviews with utilities, regulators and industry experts
What's inside the report
Why open monitoring is becoming essential
The regulatory, environmental and public pressures reshaping the sector.
What’s next after operator self-monitoring
Why legacy approaches are no longer enough, and what comes next.
How open monitoring can be successfully implemented
From sensor networks and data infrastructure to governance and standards.
How open monitoring can be successfully implemented
From sensor networks and data infrastructure to governance and standards.
What success looks like
How transparency, done right, can rebuild trust and improve environmental outcomes.
Some snapshots from the report
35%
of customers are satisfied with environmental protection efforts
1 in 5
water companies have full network visibility
7 in 10
water companies see monitoring reform as key to rebuilding trust
About this report
This report is produced by Utility Week Intelligence, in partnership with Arqiva, and is based on independent research across the UK water sector.
