AMP8 Launch: A Defining Moment for the Water Sector This week marked a major milestone for the sector with the official launch of AMP8 – ushering in a critical phase of investment and transformation for the water sector. AMP8 presents a critical opportunity to futureproof operations and rethink long-term water security, and AWS solutions will be essential in building a more resilient and responsive industry. We’ve seen first-hand how proactive planning and rapid response can mitigate risks, protect supply, and safeguard customers. To truly futureproof operations, water companies must shift from a reactive to a proactive mindset. Practically this can be achieved in several ways, including: • Prioritising AWS within resilience planning – Contingency water supplies, emergency tanker deployments, and bulk water solutions should be integrated as core resilience tools, rather than just reactive measures. • Strengthening cross-sector collaboration – Resilient water supply cannot be achieved in isolation. Water companies must work closely together, and with specialist AWS providers to embed rapid response mechanisms into their long-term planning and align with regulatory expectations. The challenges ahead are significant, but AMP8 has the potential to drive transformative change and greater resilience in the face of growing challenges. Water Direct stands ready to support the sector as it navigates this pivotal moment. #WaterDirect #AMP8 #assetmanagement
Water Direct
Utilities
Colchester, Essex 3,058 followers
Keeping Your Business Running - No Matter What
About us
As the UK’s foremost provider of alternative water services, we’re dedicated to ensuring that every business and household has access to a quality water supply – no matter what. Partnering with water companies, businesses, and the public sector, we deliver tailored solutions, including incident management, contingency planning, bulk water supply, and consultative and technical services. Our purpose is driven by the need to build resilience and safeguard water supply. By addressing the biggest water challenges of the 21st century, we help organisations minimise operational downtime, reputation risks, and regulatory penalties. Through innovation and engineering solutions, we not only meet today’s needs but are also building a stronger, more resilient future - developing a nationwide network and fortified supply chain. Our cutting-edge innovations, such as network injections, a digitised tanker fleet, and the Nationwide Bottled Water Bank, exemplify our commitment to efficiency, sustainability, and rapid response. We collaborate closely with utilities, trade bodies, and regulators to set and uphold the highest standards for alternative water supply and incident response.
- Website
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http://www.water-direct.co.uk
External link for Water Direct
- Industry
- Utilities
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Colchester, Essex
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 1996
- Specialties
- Bulk Water, Quality Assured Water, Contingency Planning, Utility Support, Bulk Tankers, Bottled Water, Nationwide, Same Day Reactive Delivery , Temporary Water Storage Solutions, Alternative Water Supplies, and Event water supply
Locations
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Primary
Victor Building, Unit 19, Earls Colne Airfield
Earls Colne
Colchester, Essex CO6 2NS, GB
Employees at Water Direct
Updates
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Anglian Water strengthens emergency water capabilities with Water Direct We’re thrilled to announce a new three-year agreement between Anglian Water and Water Direct to enhance emergency water delivery services across the East of England. This partnership guarantees water delivery to at least 2,000 households within just 24 hours and up to 20,000 priority water deliveries per year. Also, as part of the agreement, Anglian Water’s reserves in Water Direct’s Nationwide Bottled Water Bank (NBWB) will increase, to ensure immediate deployment and response to any emergency incidents. With the expected increase in PSR registrations, this heightened level of readiness is crucial. This partnership builds on a strong 16-year relationship and will ensure thousands of vulnerable households always have access to vital water supplies during unexpected water supply disruptions. As regulatory changes take effect, we’re proud to be playing a key role in proactive emergency preparedness, setting a new standard for essential services and transparency. Read the full story here: https://loom.ly/a_0qdfM #WaterDirect #waterresilience #businesscontinuity
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Meet Allie Barker, Operations Administrative Lead at Water Direct! Allie has been with us for three months and is already making a big impact at our Earls Colne depot. She is a key player in keeping our operations running smoothly, and her commitment to excellence ensures we never settle for second best. When she's not streamlining operations, Allie is indulging her passion for crystals and creating handmade gemstone jewellery in her dedicated jewellery room. #WaterDirect #meettheteam #employeespotlight
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EFRA update: progress on water sector review and the full picture on water resilience The EFRA Committee has now completed a key phase of its ongoing inquiry into the water sector, providing industry leaders with the opportunity to address key challenges, share their progress, and demonstrate their commitment to delivering a resilient and sustainable water supply for the UK. Discussions have rightly focused on issues like customer charges, sewage discharges, infrastructure investment and regulatory oversight. However, one crucial element has been largely absent from the conversation - AWS. Which we think is an oversight that should be addressed. Why AWS should be a priority in water sector reform: · Aging infrastructure = growing risk of interruptions – At the current network replacement rate, water supply failures will only increase, especially with climate change and population growth adding further strain. Water supply interruptions are not just a distant possibility; they are an increasing reality. The question is not if incidents will occur, but when. AWS should be embedded in long-term resilience strategies, rather than just an emergency afterthought. · Emergency response needs greater focus – The inquiry highlighted challenges in emergency response, but did not explore scalable AWS solutions such as contingency planning, temporary water storage or direct-injection solutions. AWS plays a critical role in minimising disruption and ensuring continuity, yet its potential remains underutilised. · Regulatory reform should include AWS provisions – SEMD regulations focus on maintaining security of supply but lack clear guidance on proactive AWS integration. Without a regulatory framework that recognises AWS as a fundamental part of resilience planning, any immediate response strategies will continue to fall short. A call for a more comprehensive approach Water resilience isn’t just about preventing supply failures - it’s about preparing for and managing them effectively when they occur. A more balanced approach is needed, one that prioritises both short-term preparedness and long-term investment. This means: · Strengthening AWS frameworks as a core part of water resilience strategies. · Ensuring utilities have robust contingency plans for both planned and unplanned outages. · Improving emergency response infrastructure to include strategic water storage and rapid deployment solutions. The EFRA inquiry presents a crucial opportunity to broaden the conversation and ensure AWS is recognised as a vital part of the UK’s water sector strategy. By doing so, we can ensure that when supply is disrupted, critical services don’t grind to a halt. #WaterDirect #EFRA #watersector #review
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Water: The overlooked business continuity risk When businesses think about continuity planning, the focus is often on power outages, cyber threats, and supply chain disruptions. But what about water? A sudden loss of water can halt operations, disrupt essential services, and cause severe financial and reputational damage. Yet, for many organisations, water resilience remains an afterthought—until a crisis strikes. 🔹 Recent incidents have shown that even a few hours without water can lead to lost revenue, operational downtime, and public health risks. 🔹 Unlike other critical services, most businesses lack a clear strategy for securing emergency water supply. 🔹 There still remains an assumption that ‘someone else’ will step in to fix a water supply issue, which leaves organisations dangerously exposed. It’s time to rethink business resilience. Today water security is no longer optional—it’s business-critical. How is your organisation preparing for water supply disruptions? #WaterTight #WaterDirect
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Beyond emergency response: building true resilience “Resilience isn’t just about responding to a crisis—it’s about preparing for it,” says Adam Johnson, CEO of Water Direct. As supply challenges become more frequent, we’re making business continuity a central and crucial pillar of our service. From strengthening our nationwide network to launching transformative response services, our evolution ensures that businesses, utilities, and communities always have access to clean, safe drinking water when they need it most. Learn more: https://loom.ly/iNi5Qjo #ResilientWaterSupply #FutureReady #WaterDirect
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Is your business prepared for water supply disruptions? A sudden water outage can bring operations to a standstill, impacting productivity, compliance, and revenue. Yet, too many businesses only think about water resilience after a disruption occurs. That’s why proactive contingency planning is essential. WaterTight—recognised for Excellence in Business Continuity at the CIR Awards— offers the UK’s most comprehensive approach to water resilience, including: ✔ Comprehensive site, operational, and infrastructure audit ✔ Guaranteed rapid response times—on-site in as little as 4 hours ✔ In-depth risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities ✔ Tailored step-by-step action plans to safeguard operations Business continuity isn’t just about responding to a crisis, it’s about preventing one. Learn more: https://loom.ly/6POlGk8 #WaterTight #BusinessContinuity #WaterResilience
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The hidden cost of water outages: Is your business prepared? When a business loses access to water, the costs add up fast: • Operational Downtime: Businesses can lose up to £200,000 per day in manufacturing, depending on the scale of disruption. • Emergency Costs: Hiring emergency crews, tankers, and paying for repairs quickly adds up. • Reputation Damage: Service interruptions lead to customer trust issues and missed SLAs. • Regulatory Fines: Penalties for non-compliance can result in thousands of pounds in fines. What’s surprising – the cost of responding to a water emergency is up to 5x more than planning for one. Yet, many UK businesses don’t have a contingency plan in place—leaving themselves vulnerable to significant financial and reputational risk. Water resilience isn’t just a smart strategy; it’s critical for long-term success. Is your business prepared? Learn more: https://loom.ly/6POlGk8 (Sources, smartflowmonitoring.com, UKWIR 2022 report, Ponemon Institute, IoW research) #WaterResilience #BusinessContinuity #RiskManagement #WaterSecurity
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Enhancing Water Resilience with Digitally Advanced Tankers As demand for AWS solutions grows, so do expectations for speed, efficiency, and reliability. That’s why we are constantly exploring new technologies to enhance how we deliver our services. On such example is the evolution of our tanker fleet. Over the years, we have invested significantly in pioneering technology to expedite the extraction and distribution of drinking-grade quality water, ensuring faster response times, greater efficiency, and improved sustainability for businesses and utilities. Onboard features include: • Smart Operational Control – Our tankers feature advanced flow and pressure control, using CANbus-integrated variable-speed stainless steel pumps to deliver up to 9 bar pressure and 850 lpm flow rates - allowing rigid tankers to discharge in under 30 minutes and articulated tankers in under 45 minutes. • Automated Flow Optimisation – Continuous network pressure monitoring automatically adjusts pump output in real time, ensuring stable pressure and flow rates without risk of overloading. • Automated shut down – The onboard pumping system automatically shuts down during inactivity, reducing fuel consumption, noise, and CO₂ emissions—minimising environmental impact while maximising operational efficiency. #WaterDirect
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Celebrating sustainability with KOTA We’re thrilled to celebrate the launch of our new website with a meaningful contribution to the environment! Thanks to our web design agency, KOTA, 1,000 trees have been planted as part of their commitment to sustainability. At Water Direct, we’re proud to champion their efforts and support UK-wide environmental initiatives that actively offset carbon footprints. To date, the KOTA team has planted over 30,879 trees. Learn more about their sustainable approach to web design here: https://loom.ly/CouxskY #Sustainability #CarbonOffset #WebDesign #GreenInitiatives #WaterDirect
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