About UKWIR

UKWIR was set up by the UK water industry in 1993 to provide a framework for the procurement of a common research programme for UK water operators on 'one voice' issues. UKWIR's members comprise 24 water and sewerage undertakers in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Its chairman is Paul Butler, Managing Director,South East Water.

The objectives of the organisation 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
• Transfer the research outputs to contributors

Over the last 10 years, UKWIR subscribers have contributed some £32m with a further £19m of research coming from UKWIR collaborators, resulting in over 400 reports delivered to members.

Work is often carried out in collaboration with government departments and regulators including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environment Agency. Some work is also done in collaboration with research organisations internationally.

The majority of work is put out to open tender to a wide range of companies, academic institutions and other organisations in the UK and overseas. Project management is undertaken by both the water industry's R&D departments as well as by individuals employed by UKWIR.

The 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.

A quarterly newsletter, UKWIR News is circulated widely.