Anglian Water and UK AI and data company Aiimi have reported the first results of their joint AI Accelerator initiative. They said Anglian Water AI tools built under the programme are saving control room staff two hours per person per day on shift handovers and have helped mitigate pollution events.
According to the companies, the initiative has identified more than 50 AI use cases across the water company, and its tools have been used thousands of times.
How the AI Accelerator works
A cross-company team built AI tools and assistants for use across Anglian Water. Each was tailored to a use case identified through consultation with the water company’s staff. The tools include information dashboards, assistants and data-mining tools for the control centre and frontline technician teams.
A cross-company steering group identifies promising use cases through data analysis and consultation with staff. Bespoke solutions are then field-tested under safe conditions, with security, data protection, model risk management and explainability built in from the outset. Metrics are gathered throughout, so that solutions which prove themselves can be scaled to the business units best placed to benefit.
The companies cited figures from Gartner. These indicate that 80% of organisations report no measurable return on investment from AI, and only one in five have scaled the technology across multiple business units. The partners said code re-use keeps scaling simple and costs low, while evaluation and engineering match compute power to each use case.
Control room dashboard saves two hours a day
The Situational Awareness Solution is an AI-powered information dashboard for control room teams. It turns the continuous flow of data entering the control room into insights intended to support faster decision-making.
The companies said the tool saves two hours per person per day, equivalent to around 62.5 working days a year. It has also helped mitigate pollution events and improved compliance scores. The solution is now implemented across the business as a microservice, so it can be used beyond a single team.
Anglian Water AI tool draws on historic pollution data
The Surfacing Historic Mitigating Actions tool is an AI assistant that guides how teams respond to live pollution incidents. It analyses hundreds of thousands of past events and, within seconds, identifies root causes, lessons learned and colleagues with relevant knowledge.
According to the companies, the tool helped heavily mitigate one potential pollution event within two months and reduced another to zero environmental impact. H2O Global News has previously reported on the utility’s use of digital tools, including the extension of its Samotics condition monitoring framework.
Partners point to AMP8 targets
The results come as UK water companies work through AMP8, the regulatory investment period that runs from 2025 to 2030. Dave Martin, Director of Digital, Data and Technology at Anglian Water, said:
“Our longstanding partnership with Aiimi has played an important role in accelerating how we deliver digital change at Anglian Water. As we continue through AMP8, having such a trusted partner with strong technical capability and a deep understanding of our business is critical, as is making sure we use tools that show real return on investment.
I’m therefore delighted they’re leading the charge into the AI era alongside us – building a more resilient, digitally‑enabled organisation for the long term, with AI that’s designed to work for us. The AI Accelerator has been invaluable in finding opportunities for new tech, making good investment decisions, and scaling solutions that really work.”
Steve Salvin, CEO at Aiimi, said: “Off-the-shelf AI tools can drive impact when deployed strategically, but the water industry’s unique challenges and AMP8’s strict targets require tailored solutions. As a forward-thinking organisation, Anglian Water wants business-owned solutions, designed for the specific problems their teams face.
“Together, we’ve delivered just that: bespoke, company-owned tools addressing their people’s needs. The AI Accelerator has also established an operating model for turning AI opportunities into real solutions, from discovery to delivery – and the results speak for themselves. If this is what we’ve done in just over a year, I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in the rest of AMP8.”
Microsoft role and wider contract
Microsoft UK provided guidance on the initiative alongside Aiimi and subsidised training for Anglian Water staff. The AI Accelerator also runs on a Microsoft technology stack. Simon Mahon, CTO at Microsoft UK, said: “Anglian Water continues to set the pace for AI adoption in the UK water sector. Their AI Accelerator capability, developed in partnership with Aiimi, provides a clear and effective model for AI use‑case incubation and prioritisation, one we regularly reference as best practice.”
The AI Accelerator is part of Anglian Water’s new Digital, Data and Technology framework, under which Aiimi is a partner for Hyperscaler Cloud Systems and Enterprise Digital Capability. The initiative is one workstream within a multi-million pound deal that will span up to eight years.
On 21 September 2026, Anglian Water presented Aiimi with its Innovation Award for the AI Accelerator. The two companies have worked together on projects for more than a decade. Aiimi has also worked with Northumbrian Water Group, Yorkshire Water, Welsh Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities and the regulator Ofwat.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Anglian Water AI Accelerator?
It is a joint initiative between Anglian Water and Aiimi in which a cross-company team identifies AI use cases, builds bespoke tools, tests them and scales those that prove successful across the business.
How much time does the AI tool save Anglian Water control room staff?
The Situational Awareness Solution saves two hours per person per day, which the companies equate to around 62.5 working days a year.
How has AI helped Anglian Water respond to pollution incidents?
The Surfacing Historic Mitigating Actions tool analyses hundreds of thousands of past events to surface root causes and lessons learned. Within two months, it helped heavily mitigate one potential pollution event and reduced another to zero environmental impact.
What role did Microsoft play in the AI Accelerator?
Microsoft UK provided guidance on the initiative alongside Aiimi and subsidised training for Anglian Water staff. A Microsoft technology stack is used across the AI Accelerator.
How many AI use cases has Anglian Water identified?
The steering group that directs the initiative has identified more than 50 AI use cases across Anglian Water.
