Making new communities water smart
We help developers, planners and water companies design housing that uses less water, creates less flood risk, and returns water safely to the environment. Our frameworks, evidence and tools are free to use.
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What is a water smart community?
A water smart community is a new development designed so that homes, infrastructure and residents together use less water, create less flood risk, and return water safely to the environment.
It is achieved through integrated water management: planning water supply, wastewater, drainage and reuse as one system from the earliest stage of a development, rather than as four separate utilities bolted on at the end. Our research found that water neutrality in new housing is achievable through this integrated design — but not through any single measure on its own.
Read the full definition →Assets
Water-saving and water-reusing infrastructure, built in from the start.
Values
Residents and organisations who understand water and act on it.
Stewardship
Clear, long-term governance of who owns and manages the systems.
Four years of evidence, in four lines
Drawn from three live demonstrator sites, public research and work with developers, local authorities and water companies across England.
Public and professional appetite for water reuse is high — when the governance is clear.
Water neutrality in new housing is achievable through integrated design, not through any single measure.
Stewardship must be decided early. Retrofitting governance after build is far harder and more expensive.
Cross-sector partnership between developers and water companies unlocks delivery and funding routes.
Case studies
Real developments, with what worked, what cost more than expected, and what we would do differently.
From EWSC to the Community of Practice
Enabling Water Smart Communities (EWSC) was a four-year innovation programme, funded by Ofwat's Water Breakthrough Challenge and led by Anglian Water. It concluded in 2026.
Its work now continues through the Water Smart Community of Practice, which maintains EWSC's frameworks and evidence base, and sits alongside the Water Smart Growth Board — the national board established in 2026 out of EWSC's work. Everything EWSC published remains available here.
About the Community of Practice →EWSC 2022–2026 → Community of Practice + Water Smart Growth Board
Explore the work
Themes
Our key outputs, gathered by topic.
Resource Hub
Every resource worth reading, searchable and filterable.
Case studies
Eddington, Knights Park and more, in depth.
EWSC Outputs
Everything the EWSC programme published, free to download.
Videos & webinars
Recordings, site films and studio interviews.
News & events
Announcements, articles and upcoming events.
Common questions
Short, direct answers to the questions we are asked most.
What is integrated water management?
Integrated water management (IWM) is the practice of planning water supply, wastewater, surface water drainage and water reuse as a single connected system, rather than as separate utilities. In new housing, it means deciding how water moves through a development at masterplanning stage, when changes are still cheap.
How can new housing reduce water use and flood risk at the same time?
By combining measures rather than relying on one. Rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse cut demand on the mains; sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) slow and store surface water; water-efficient fittings reduce consumption at the tap. Our research found that developments achieve the largest reductions when these are designed together from the outset, with clear ownership of the systems once residents move in.
What is water neutrality, and is it achievable?
Water neutrality means a new development does not increase the total demand for water in its area. Our evidence shows it is achievable in new housing through integrated design — combining demand reduction, reuse and offsetting — but not through any single measure alone.
Who owns and maintains community water systems?
Community water systems need a clear owner for their whole life, whether that is a water company, a local authority or a community organisation. Our research found that ownership has to be agreed early. Arranging it after a development is built is far harder.
Is the guidance free to use?
Yes. All reports, one-pagers, frameworks and tools published here are free to download and use. The programme was publicly funded through Ofwat's Water Breakthrough Challenge.
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