Northumbrian Water named Water Company of the Year

Northumbrian Water has been crowned Water Company of the Year at the prestigious Water Industry Awards 2026.

The company, which supplies water to 2.7 million customers across the North East, received the industry’s highest honour at the national awards ceremony in Birmingham. The accolade recognises its achievements in customer service, environmental performance and innovation.

Alongside the headline award, Northumbrian Water also received further recognition for a number of projects across the industry, including:

• Winner – Asset Management Initiative of the Year
• Highly Commended – Wastewater Project of the Year
• Highly Commended – Groundbreaker Award

The awards follow another major success for the company, which was recently ranked first in the industry’s customer satisfaction league table by Ofwat through its C-MeX assessment for the second consecutive year – the only water company to achieve the feat.

Northumbrian Water has continued to invest in improving customer services, protecting the environment and using innovative technology to identify and resolve issues before they arise.

Its approach includes using data to better understand when customers may need additional support, alongside smarter monitoring systems designed to reduce pollution risks and improve response times.

Heidi Mottram, Chief Executive at Northumbrian Water, said: “We know how important the services we provide are to people’s everyday lives, and this award reflects the hard work our teams put in day in, day out for our customers, our communities and the environment.

“To be named Water Company of the Year, while also topping the industry for customer satisfaction for a second year running, shows the difference our people are making.”

Utility Week editor-in-chief and chair of the judging panel, James Wallin, said: “The diversity and innovation displayed throughout our winning entries is testament to the real progress the water sector is making. If evidence is required that water companies and their partners are stepping up to meet the expectations of the public, here it is.”