The EWSC programme
Enabling Water Smart Communities was a four-year innovation programme, funded by Ofwat's Water Breakthrough Challenge and led by Anglian Water. It concluded in 2026. This is what it did and what it produced.
In short
EWSC set out to prove that new housing could be built to use significantly less water and create less flood risk, and to work out what would have to change — in policy, regulation, finance and practice — for that to become normal rather than exceptional. It worked across three demonstrator developments and published its findings openly.
What it set out to do
The programme began from a straightforward problem: England needs a great deal of new housing in places where water is already scarce and flood risk is already rising. EWSC asked whether integrated water management could resolve that tension, and what it would take to deliver at scale.
How it worked
Three demonstrator developments provided live testing grounds, supported by research from the University of East Anglia and the University of Manchester, technical work from Arup, and delivery experience from Anglian Water, Thames Water and United Utilities. CIWEM hosted the convening work with the wider sector.
What it produced
- A framework for planning water smart developments from masterplan to handover
- Evidence on public attitudes to water reuse
- A database of integrated water management measures with cost and delivery guidance
- Case studies, one-pagers and guidance for developers, planners and water companies
What happened next
EWSC concluded in 2026. Its work continues through the Water Smart Community of Practice, which maintains the evidence base and supports the people applying it, and through the Water Smart Growth Board, the national board established out of EWSC's work to take integrated water management into government policy.
Everything EWSC published remains available on this site, unchanged and free to use.