Global engineering and built environment consultancy Arup and Dutch industrial water specialist Evides Industriewater have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to address a major barrier to development of the UK’s new industrial clusters by addressing the complex water challenges.

The strategic partnership will bring together the water catchment and environmental management aspect of Arup’s expertise with Evides Industriewater’s capabilities in infrastructure, sustainable industrial water treatment and water reuse to deliver innovative, resilient and circular water solutions for industrial customers in the UK.

Lack of sufficient water supply hampers industrial development in UK

Industrial development and the transition to the green economy is hampered in many areas of the UK by the lack of a sufficient water supply to support industries such as carbon capture and hydrogen production.

New industries and new industrial projects will need to identify and treat new sources of water to guarantee security of supply over the long-term. Any development will need to respect the increasingly stringent environmental requirements governing the extraction and discharge of water in the landscape.

From individual industrial projects, right up to multi-stakeholder industrial projects, the two firms will work together to specify, design and build water infrastructure solutions to enable the proposed industrial development in water-stressed areas.

The companies say the logical solution is to have one centralised water supply and treatment system, planned to maximise water recycling and the efficient use of water, with a single permitting application covering multiple customers.

Specifically, the MOU outlines a shared commitment to:

• Develop integrated water strategies that reduce dependency on freshwater sources.
• Champion circular water systems that promote reuse and reduce waste.
• Support UK industries in meeting environmental regulations and sustainability goals.
• Invest in new infrastructure for water purification and distribution to industry.

Partnership to initially focus on key industrial regions in UK

The partnership will initially focus on key industrial regions in the UK, with plans to expand based on client needs and emerging opportunities.

Arup has already worked with multiple stakeholders in the Humber Industrial Cluster to identify and quantify the scale of the water challenges facing industry in the region. Evides Industriewater, which specialises in designing, building, financing and operating largescale industrial water treatment facilities and associated network infrastructure.

Photo: Humber Industrial Cluster Salt End chemical plant

Simon Barugh, Director at Arup said:

“Water is a critical resource for industry, and the UK is facing increasing pressure from climate change, ageing infrastructure and regulatory demands.

“Our partnership with Evides Industriewater will help industries future-proof their operations with sustainable and efficient water solutions.”

In multi-stakeholder projects, the way forward is for specialised water companies to take ownership of the water supply problem, freeing up industry to focus on its core business, Colin Robinson, Business Manager, UK & Ireland at Evides Industriewater said.

“Together with Arup, we aim to co-create solutions that not only secure water supply but also contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally respectful industrial landscape.”

Arup and Evides Industriewater will be hosting a series of webinars in 2026 on the topics of water and wastewater management for Data Centres, The Energy Transition, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and New Nuclear.

Click here to register to attend the webinars