Building Special Relationships for the U.K. and U.S. Water Sectors

British Water and The Water Council in Milwaukee announce memorandum of action to help businesses export expertise internationally

Mark Coates, Vice President, Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley

In an era where water challenges know no geographical boundaries, two influential water sector organisations signed an agreement that opened up new business and innovation opportunities between the United States and the United Kingdom. British Water, the U.K.’s leading trade association for the water and wastewater supply chain and wider industry, and The Water Council (TWC), a globally recognised hub for freshwater innovation, stewardship and economic development based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, signed a memorandum of action at British Water’s International Reception held in London in February.

The memorandum allows British Water members to engage with TWC’s World Water Hub in Milwaukee to help them to understand and access business development and innovation opportunities, both in the United States and internationally. TWC offers guidance on regulations and market entry strategies, as well as make connections to enable British Water members to develop U.S. business opportunities and scale up exports.

British Water will help U.S. companies understand U.K. market opportunities at a time when U.K. water companies are planning to invest a record GBP 104 billion (approximately USD 130 billion) to upgrade water and sewage systems to reduce spillages from combined sewage overflows in Britain between 2025 and 2030 — the largest investment ever made by the U.K. water industry. The U.S. faces similar challenges to the U.K. with combined sewage overflows “major water pollution concern for 772 cities,” according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. About 46 million people live in U.S. cities with combined sewer systems, including an estimated 140,000 miles of municipally-owned sewers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2004 Report to Congress: Impacts and Control of CSOs and SSOs.

The partnership comes at a particularly interesting time for British Water members looking to export globally as TWC recently received a USD 2.5 million grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Regional Innovation Cluster initiative. The grant will enable TWC to provide practical resources, such as tailored webinars and virtual market visits, to help British Water members gain a deeper understanding of the U.S. market while building connections with innovative Wisconsin-based companies. The funding will also enable TWC to enhance programs such as the BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator, which supports late-stage startups including SMEs looking to expand and foreign direct investment (FDI) prospects.

The accelerator programme includes matchmaking with potential clients, tailored training, customised market resources, and capacity-building initiatives. The programme also enables startups to use TWC’s Milwaukee headquarters as a landing pad, offering not just office space, but access to a thriving ecosystem of water technology leaders, potential partners, and research facilities including the School of Freshwater Sciences, the only one of its kind in the United States. GKinetic Energy, an Irish firm that has developed a flow-accelerating hydrokinetic turbine capable of producing clean energy from canals, rivers, and tidal flows, is one of ten start-ups which were selected to be included in the 2024 BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator.

In the U.K., British Water’s deep understanding of the U.K. market and strong industry connections provides U.S. companies with invaluable insights and introductions, while the organisation’s activities offer practical knowledge that can help American companies navigate the unique aspects of the U.K. water sector. Rapid Radicals, a Wisconsin-based company developing revolutionary wastewater treatment technology that can treat water 22 times faster than conventional methods, has been exploring opportunities in the U.K. market with British Water. The business uses rapid solids removal in combination with a proprietary catalytically enhanced, ozone-based advanced oxidation process to remove solids and treat organics, bacteria, pathogens, and emerging contaminants such as micropollutants. Rapid Radicals believes its solution could help address combined sewer overflow challenges in the U.K.

Both TWC and British Water will serve as knowledge hubs and entry points for companies looking to expand internationally. They will also collaborate at events such as The Global Water and Energy Exchanged (WEX) and WEFTEC, the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference, the largest conference of its kind in North America.

British Water members will also now be able to gain early access to TWC’s flagship “Land & Expand” event post-WEFTEC. Land & Expand, which is held every other year, introduces overseas companies to Milwaukee’s World Water Hub and offers insights and guidance on expanding into the U.S.

For businesses in both markets, the message is clear: international expansion in the water sector no longer needs to be a solo journey. Through the partnership, companies gain access to experienced guides, established networks, and practical support that can help them navigate new markets successfully.

The partners signed the Memorandum of Action at British Water’s International Forum in London on Monday, February 24th.