Ageing infrastructure and cyber threats top UK water resilience concerns, new Schneider Electric research finds
Posted by: electime 13th October 2026
Schneider Electric has released The Water Crunch Report, revealing how much water resilience is becoming a critical issue for UK businesses and water system decision-makers.
One in three (33%) UK business leaders expect water quality or availability to become a serious barrier to operations or growth within the next five years, and a further 37% place that point six to ten years away.
Ageing infrastructure is the most frequently cited obstacle to protecting business operations from water-related disruption: 57% of UK business leaders identify it as a main barrier, compared to 36% across Europe. Cybersecurity is also prominent. Six in ten (60%) rank cyber threats among their top three business continuity risks. Among UK water system decision-makers, 75% identify external cyberattacks on connected water infrastructure as a major threat to resilience.
The research lands against the backdrop of the UK’s most severe drought in decades, as well as an increase in the number of cyber security threats to critical infrastructure. Findings point to a growing need to treat water resilience as both an infrastructure and a cybersecurity priority as systems become more connected.
Smart technology uptake is strong, but digital-twin adoption lags
UK business leaders report widespread use of smart water technologies to help cut operating costs, protect business continuity and strengthen sustainability performance. Seven in ten (70%) have implemented smart meters and real-time consumption monitoring, while 73% have automated controls for pumps, valves or treatment systems. Nearly two-thirds (63%) have integrated water management platforms, such as SCADA.
However, digital-twin and network-modelling technology remains less common among water system decision-makers: just 25% have deployed it, despite its potential to identify system vulnerabilities early. Three-quarters (75%) say they are aware of the technology but have not yet implemented it.
Clearer regulation could also help strengthen resilience. Four in ten (40%) UK water system decision-makers say clearer regulatory standards would have the greatest impact on their ability to protect operations from water disruption.
“Water resilience depends on more than recognising the risk,” said Alex Richards, Vice President for Industrial Process & Automation, Schneider Electric. “It requires investment in infrastructure, better visibility of water networks and strong cybersecurity as those networks become more connected. The UK findings point to a clear tension: many organisations are adopting smart water technologies, yet ageing infrastructure remains a major barrier, and digital-twin deployment among water decision-makers is still limited. Improving resilience means combining modernisation with clearer standards and robust protection of connected systems.”
“It’s easy to write off this summer’s droughts and impact on industry as a one-off, but this is now a structural feature of operating in the UK and Europe,” said Sophie Borgne, Water & Environment Segment President of Schneider Electric. “Right now, around half of the UK and EU are under some level of drought, according to the EU’s European Drought Observatory. Reusing water can reduce our dependence on rivers and reservoirs already under strain, yet less than 1% of treated urban wastewater is reused across the UK today. The organisations investing in smart water technology are turning water efficiency into a competitive advantage.”
