Leading business support organisation Future WaterAssociation, in partnership with Waterbriefing, is launching a major survey on the growing challenges surrounding cyber security in the water sector.
Today the water sector is generating ever-increasing amounts of data from assets, information centres, AI systems and customer information. The data is essential for the delivery of resilience and optimal asset performance and critical to the effective functioning of the sector. However, while the benefits are huge, one of the key threats now facing the sector is the growing risk of cyber-attacks.
Cyber security is an issue for water companies and suppliers from the major Tier 1 companies down to Tier 2, 3, 4 and beyond.
According to the Government’s recent UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2017, only 33% of businesses have formal policies in place and only 20% of those surveyed, provide staff with cyber security training. While many companies have carried out health checks, risk assessments or audits to identify cyber security risks, less than half have a formal cyber security incident management process in place.
Across the water sector the picture is varied but will be changing rapidly, as regulators require much more stringent reporting linked to cyber security issues and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) become mandatory in the UK from May 2018.
The Future Water Association survey is supported by Water UK, the organisation which represents all the UK water companies.
Paul Horton, Chief Executive of Future Water commented:
“The survey is a real opportunity for firms at all points in the supply chain – from SMEs to large corporates, to water utilities – to express their views on what is set to be a major challenge for the water sector.”
“We’re trying to get a more accurate picture of the current level of awareness in the sector and help companies prepare for the future, where GDPR becomes mandatory and the Government implements the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive. The need to act is now.”
“It’s also vital that all companies in the sector understand their responsibilities ahead of the new Regulations coming in next year. Wherever they are in the supply chain either in the capacity as a supplier, customer or both –they will be required to demonstrate their Cyber Security preparedness when bidding for work.”
Click here to access the UK Water Sector Cyber Security 2017 Survey online
Waterbriefing is media partner with the 4th Annual Industrial Control Cybersecurity Europe Summit in London this September.
Click here for more information
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.