A prevention-first future: Our response to the government’s white paper, 'A New Vision for Water'

Published: 5 February 2026

The government’s new white paper, A New Vision for Water, represents one of the most significant shifts in water regulation in a generation. Its message is unambiguous: prevention comes first. The era of ‘fix at fault’ is over, replaced with a structured expectation that water companies and regulators understand their networks, prevent problems before they occur, and deliver long term environmental improvement.

Among the most significant proposals is the introduction of MOT-style health checks on pipes, pumps and critical assets, mandating water companies to identify vulnerabilities long before they result in pollution events. There is a strong emphasis on long term resilience, asset visibility, and proactive management, making clear that environmental protection must be embedded into day-to-day operations rather than tackled through reactive, end-of-pipe clean ups.

A regulatory model built on prevention and partnership

Beyond asset resilience, the white paper also recognises that protecting the water environment is not solely the responsibility of water companies. It calls for joined-up local plans that bring together councils, farmers, developers and water companies to address the interconnected drivers of pollution, water resources and growth. This represents a more holistic, catchment-wide approach to environmental management; one that mirrors our long-standing belief that complex water challenges cannot be solved in silos.

The establishment of a single regulator and the introduction of independent regional system planners will further strengthen this collaborative approach, ensuring business plans and investment strategies reflect both local needs and future environmental pressures.

A shift from end-of-pipe solutions to root cause management

One of the most notable opportunities emerging from the white paper is the industry’s move away from reliance on ‘end pipe’ solutions such as the traditional storm overflow upgrade programmes and towards ‘pre-pipe’ pollution prevention, including sustainable drainage, rainwater management and tackling sewer misuse. This transition requires catchment-wide assessment, network optimisation and real-time monitoring – and is backed up by government’s commitment to review the legislation and funding mechanisms to ensure more ‘pre-pipe’ investments.

Supporting the supply chain

An assessment will take place to map out the sector’s infrastructure delivery needs in relation to current and future supply chain capability, and to identify critical supply chains. Collaboration will be encouraged between water companies to address supply chain gaps and share best practice, and the use of standardised designs and practices will be expanded for key assets. This will create space for innovation in monitoring, analytics, asset resilience and nature-based interventions.

A framework for success

The principles set out in A New Vision for Water reflect the foundations of our solution to pollution framework, which prioritises root cause visibility, early action, and data-driven targeting.

Our approach centres on three core capabilities that directly answer the white paper’s expectations.

High-resolution monitoring and predictive insight

Real-time monitoring, continuous water quality data and predictive analytics enable water companies to anticipate failures, understand hidden hydraulic constraints, and make faster, more transparent decisions; exactly the proactive oversight the new regulatory model demands.

Independent assurance in an era of higher scrutiny

As regulatory pressure intensifies, independent verification of asset condition, performance data and intervention plans becomes essential. Our assurance services give water companies the confidence and evidence needed to demonstrate compliance and justify investment decisions.

Targeted interventions that deliver measurable outcomes

From asset optimisation to hydraulic performance improvements, we help water companies move from broad-brush upgrades to targeted, high-impact interventions, boosting capacity, improving operational resilience and reducing pollution at source.

Want to know more? Read more about our solution to pollution framework in our white paper, Solution to pollution: A holistic catchment-wide strategy for the water industry, here.

The future of water management is prevention first

For water companies, the message is clear: compliance in the coming era will depend on shifting from reactive fixes to proactive, intelligence-led, catchment-wide pollution reduction. Those who succeed will be the ones who understand their networks deeply, invest in prevention, and build the evidence base required for transparent, forward-looking asset management.