Arup and Evides Industriewater Sign MOU to Tackle Industrial Water Supply Challenges in the UK

Posted on 10 February 2026

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.  

Evides UK Ltd, Fast Track House, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6PT 

Arup, which 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, is teaming up 
with Evides Industriewater, which specialises in designing, building, financing and operating large-
scale industrial water treatment facilities and associated network infrastructure. 

Water is not as readily available to industrial users as it once was, with climate change beginning 
to affect rainfall patterns, coupled with insufficient and ageing water infrastructure. Water 
companies cannot spare limitless amounts of water to industrial customers as they tackle a 
growing population and a warming climate. 

Therefore, 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. 

Given that industrial clusters will comprise several businesses requiring water, 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. 

“Water is a critical resource for industry, and the UK is facing increasing pressure from climate 
change, ageing infrastructure and regulatory demands,” said Simon Barugh, Director at Arup. “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,” said 
Colin Robinson, Business Manager, UK & Ireland at Evides Industriewater. “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.” 

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

Sign up here to register to attend the webinars.