Peter Morgan-Cox, Principle Mechanical Engineer at Anglian Water and Pump Centre Council member, shares UK water sector insights to successfully deliver WIMES throughout the industry.
Within the UK water sector, the Water Industry Mechanical and Electrical Specifications (WIMES) is widely regarded as the industry standard for mechanical and electrical equipment. In recent years its adoption has grown, and this year is no exception. More water undertakers are using the AMP8 transition period as a key opportunity to consolidate and align their engineering practices under a unified set of specifications, adopting WIMES more extensively than ever before.
Across recent industry forums, discussions have turned toward the future of WIMES and the idea of developing “WIMES standard products.” It’s a forward-thinking concept that could ease the strain on the supply chain and increase efficiency across the sector. While the opportunity is compelling, it’s clear that any such shift would need careful consideration, planning, and risk management to succeed.
It was during one of these conversations, while exploring ideas for the Water Equipment Show (WES), that a critical need became apparent: we must do more to improve knowledge, awareness, and understanding of WIMES across the industry. Although WIMES is widely known in name, the depth of understanding required to use it effectively is often lacking, particularly among newer professionals entering the industry.
WES2025 offered the perfect opportunity to address this. It wasn’t the first time there had been a WIMES session at the show - it was previously presented by Roger Marlow nearly 10 years ago. Building on that previous work, I sought to not only revisit the fundamentals, but to bring the topic to life through real world case studies that show how WIMES has delivered tangible value across different projects in an accessible session from which even those brand new to the industry could benefit.
Since the Water Equipment Show, this session has been delivered internally at Anglian Water to help enhance the understanding of experienced engineers, and also provide a foundation for new starters. This is particularly important now as the AMP8 programme drives a significant expansion in personnel across the sector, and so many of the engineers joining capital delivery teams are either new graduates or coming into the water industry from elsewhere. For these individuals, understanding WIMES isn’t just useful, it’s essential.
The responsibility for this knowledge transfer doesn’t lie with any one individual or organisation; it’s a shared responsibility. If you're new to the industry, or looking to deepen your understanding of WIMES, seek out someone with experience, ask questions, engage in discussions, and find the support you need to grow. And if you’re one of those experienced professionals who’s worked with WIMES for years, take the time to share what you know, help others navigate them and unlock the value within them.
This call to support each other, to pass on knowledge and nurture growth, goes beyond just WIMES; it’s about building a stronger, more resilient industry together. Through collaboration and continuous learning, we can ensure that the next generation of engineers is not only better equipped, but empowered to shape the future of the water sector.