UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) has issued an invitation for expressions of interest (EoIs) to revise its National Failures Database (NFD), which gives water companies insights into the pipes that make up water and sewer networks. The organisation said the overhaul is intended to better safeguard below-ground infrastructure as new technologies change how network data can be collected and analysed.
Two decades of pipe failure data
For two decades, the database has provided water companies and other stakeholders with insights into network performance. It collates decades of pipe data from water networks and sewerage, including material, diameter and cause of failure.
According to UKWIR, the UK water sector faces complex operational challenges driven by evolving infrastructure needs, alongside the integration and scaling-up of rapidly advancing technologies aimed at meeting those pressures. As technologies have progressed, the database needs to respond to the expanded data and predictive analytical opportunities now available, accelerating data sharing and enabling better operational and investment decisions.
“Our goal is to provide a single, joined-up platform that reveals clear regional commonalities in asset performance; helping companies understand why specific infrastructure thrives in some conditions while failing in others,” said Olu Onifade, strategic programme manager at UKWIR.
“Ultimately the output and the outcomes will benefit the water industry as a whole. This collaborative approach allows us to share knowledge across the entire sector, supporting innovation with the supply chain and providing academia with the high-quality data needed to drive future breakthroughs.”
From reactive maintenance to data-led resilience
By integrating raw performance data with external variables such as soil composition and complex weather patterns, UKWIR aims to support the sector’s move from reactive maintenance to proactive, data-led resilience. It anticipates the updated NFD will be ready in time for companies to use the results to inform business plans in autumn 2028.
H2O Global News has previously reported on UKWIR’s research programme focused on climate, pollutants and infrastructure resilience.
Budget and deadline for expressions of interest
UKWIR is inviting expressions of interest from within and beyond the sector to bring capabilities in the design, provision, implementation and ongoing support of a refreshed cloud-based collaborative data ingestion, analytics and reporting platform.
There is a budget of up to £400,000 for implementation and initial delivery activities, with an annual budget of approximately £50,000 covering ongoing support, maintenance and associated licence costs. The solution is expected to remain supportable and adaptable for a minimum operational period of 10 years.
Submissions must be received no later than midnight on 23 October 2026. Following evaluation, selected suppliers may be invited to take part in a formal tender process. Further details are available on UKWIR’s projects open to expressions of interest page.
A shared evidence base for asset management
The planned platform will bring together historical and future data provided by approximately 20 affiliated companies to form a trusted evidence base for understanding the characteristics, performance, deterioration and failure of water and sewerage assets across the industry.
UKWIR chief executive Mike Rose said: “We have been working collaboratively across a broad group of our members to bring this important and potentially transformational project to life. The partners we want to work with will reimagine the National Failure Database in a world of new technologies and advanced data, which includes renaming the tool to better represent its value and scope to our members.
“We are appealing to a diverse group of organisations, including technology companies, analytics and data science specialists, and engineering companies to work with us on this timely, critical project, which responds to the calls from government for proactive leadership in creating a unified system database and open data standards.”
According to UKWIR, utilities in the USA and Australia have expressed interest in the project’s development, which the organisation says reinforces its aim of establishing a world-class standard for asset management.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UKWIR National Failures Database?
It is a database that has, for two decades, collated pipe data from water and sewer networks, including material, diameter and cause of failure. It gives water companies and other stakeholders insights into network performance.
Why is UKWIR revising the National Failures Database?
UKWIR says the database needs to respond to the expanded data and predictive analytical opportunities now available, accelerating data sharing and enabling better operational and investment decisions. The aim is to support the sector’s move from reactive maintenance to proactive, data-led resilience.
What is the budget for the National Failures Database project?
There is a budget of up to £400,000 for implementation and initial delivery activities. An annual budget of approximately £50,000 covers ongoing support, maintenance and associated licence costs.
What is the deadline for expressions of interest?
Submissions must be received no later than midnight on 23 October 2026. Selected suppliers may then be invited to take part in a formal tender process.
When will the updated National Failures Database be ready?
UKWIR anticipates the updated database will be ready in time for companies to use the results to inform business plans in autumn 2028.
