Water resilience should be regarded as a national security priority, delegates to the British Water International Forum 2026 heard on 23 February.
Speaking at the event in London, Andy Roby, senior water resources advisor for the UK government’s Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), said, that there was a potential market opportunity for the water sector supplier community to access investment for projects from government defence budgets and security spending.
Some 4.5% of the government’s GDP spending is on defence, “and a portion of that will be for what is being referred to as resilience,” Roby told attendees. “Water resilience will be a key part of that spending and there is a big market opportunity there, but the question of how to tap into that remains.”
Stressing the critical importance of water security for UK growth, stability, and wider developmental objectives, Roby said, “The global financial system is not fit for climate change, which is 80% water related. We need to integrate water related risks and opportunities, ensuring water is valued and accounted for in economic and financial decision making – working across the whole global financial system.”
He added, “Strengthening water security is therefore critical for delivering the UK’s international mission to create a world free from poverty in a liveable planet.”
The 2026 UK National Security Assessment on Global Ecosystems recognises the importance of global water security for the UK. One of the assessment’s key judgements states that “the critical ecosystems that support major global food production areas, and that impact global climate, water, and weather cycles are the most important for UK national security.”
Shift in funding
Roby explained that the FCDO is transitioning from aid and service delivery to an investment-based and systems thinking development model in this changing landscape, as are other global funding institutions like the World Bank.
He also invited senior leaders with an interest in water to engage with the government on the risk to business if water security is not prioritised. This position was echoed by Tom Arnot, founder of the Water innovation & Research Consortium at the University of Bath.
Chairing a panel that included water innovation cluster groups from Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands, he said that heavy water using companies needed to put water “front and centre of board decision-making”, as water insecurity was already a fundamental threat to business-as-usual. He too urged companies to look to unusual sources of funding, like defence and resilience budgets.
International collaboration
As the leading UK membership body representing supply chain businesses operating in the water sector globally, British Water plays a pivotal part in bringing stakeholders together. The annual International Forum and International Reception provide a framework of collaboration to foster innovation, business development, and connections, helping UK suppliers find global partners and funding opportunities.
Three Memorandums of Action (MoAs) were signed by British Water at the International Forum and Reception. The partnerships with Catalan Water Partnership, the Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council (CWIEC) and the Aquatech trade events platform provide opportunities for the association’s members through key organisations that can help meet water sector challenges through global collaboration
Beverley Ferrara, British Water business development lead for Europe and the Commonwealth, said, “Global Water Intelligence estimates the water and wastewater market is valued at over US$800 billion annually and the OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development] estimates that global water infrastructure will run into the trillions of dollars in the coming decades. So, for British Water members, growing outside the UK is very attractive and often it is not capability that is the barrier but access.
“For UK water sector businesses to engage and join these international partnership alliances and cluster groups through British Water MoAs opens doors to finding market penetration and access opportunities, funding frameworks, launching pilots, and supporting growth ambitions.”
Reflecting on the day, Lila Thompson, chief executive of British Water said, “I’m delighted that British Water has brought so many people together for another highly successful International Forum and Reception, supported by the World Water-Tech Innovation Summit.
“This is a critical time for our members in identifying new investment opportunities, better ways of working, and productive collaborations and partnerships with companies and organisations globally. The new MoAs with the Catalan Water Partnership, Aquatech and CWIEC will open doors for our members to prosper and grow – unlocking commercial opportunities and expanding project portfolios.”
