How WIMWG and WIMES are Standardising the UK Water Sector.

In an era defined by tightening regulatory frameworks, ambitious environmental targets, and the high-stakes kickoff of AMP8, collaboration is the water industry’s greatest asset. At the heart of this collaborative push are the Pump Centre’s premier industry initiatives: the Water Industry Mechanical and Electrical Specifications (WIMES) and the Water Industry Maintenance Working Group (WIMWG).

WIMES represents the codified technical specifications used to procure and build equipment. WIMWG is a working group that debates, reviews, and shapes those standards based on real-world performance. These Pump Centre initiatives work to unify engineering practices across UK water companies, ensuring infrastructure is inherently optimised for resilience, cost-efficiency, and modern technological integration.

WIMWG: Innovation in Action

WIMWG serves as a central hub for cross-industry knowledge sharing, bringing together engineering experts, asset managers, and technical specialists from all major UK water utilities. By creating a transparent forum to share operational successes, failures, and best practices, WIMWG ensures that when one utility innovates, the entire sector benefits.

The working group’s meeting in May 2026 put this collaborative spirit on full display. With the spotlight firmly on Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM) and Asset Health & Maintenance, member companies showcased how cutting-edge strategies are transforming day-to-day operations:

AI-Driven Asset Insights: Yorkshire Water presented a pioneering initiative leveraging Artificial Intelligence to review and analyse complex asset data. By utilising AI to spot anomalies and predict failures before they occur, they demonstrated a significant leap forward in proactive asset management.
Communities of Practice: Thames Water shared details on their Maintenance 100 approach. This strategy focuses on building dedicated internal communities of practice, empowering engineering teams to standardise skills, share frontline insights, and optimise maintenance workflows.

Discover more about the challenges and opportunities faced by the UK water industry and how at WIMWG is working on their solutions at the upcoming technical seminars:

Thames Water - Asset Health - 25th November 2026
Scottish Water - CBM - February 2027
Wessex Water - DSEAR - April 2027

WIMES: Standardising for the Future

WIMES is the vehicle for standardisation and collaboration between manufacturers and end user companies across the water industry. The first half of 2026 has seen continued momentum in updating and expanding the WIMES portfolio to keep pace with modern engineering demands.

Elevating Power & Distribution Standards

A major suite of updated Medium Voltage (MV) standards was published in January 2026, delivering crucial updates to critical electrical infrastructure:

WIMES 3.09 (Issue 5) & 3.10(A/B) (Issue 1): Covering MV Ring Main Units and Fixed/Withdrawable Pattern Distribution Assemblies (1 to 22 kV).
WIMES 3.11, 3.12, & 3.13 (Issue 5): Providing updated guidelines for MV Transformers, Motor Starter Assemblies, and MV Installations.
WIMES 3.18 (Issue 1): A brand-new specification dedicated to Battery Tripping Units.

Maintaining Standards with Preliminary Treatment Equipment

The WIMES 2.02 (Grit Removal Equipment), 2.03 (Package Inlet Works), 5.0X (Screens) and 6.03 (Screenings Handling) specifications were updated in May 2026, ensuring that any significant changes in the performance and design requirements for these plant items occurring over the last 10 years have been effectively addressed.

The Forward Pipeline

Looking ahead, WIMES is tackling emerging electrical, process and mechanical needs. Over the next few months, several new specifications will be published, including:

WIMES 3.14 (Connection Points between Renewable Generating Facilities and Water Company Electrical Systems): Addressing the increasing installation of solar PV systems and wind turbines, etc. on water and wastewater treatment works.
WIMES 8.14 (Pressure Vessels): Prepared by Pump Centre Associate Consultant Simon Whatley.
WIMES 8.17 (HVAC Equipment): Addressing ventilation needs for process equipment to mitigate the risk of corrosive, hazardous/toxic or explosive/flammable environments developing in/around plant areas

Comprehensive reviews are also underway for the WIMES 3.02 Low Voltage Electrical Installations suite (covering everything from Ethernet networks to Lighting and Fire alarm systems), and for WIMES 8.04 (Air Blowers), WIMES 8.07 (Compressed Air Systems) and WIMES 9.02 (Permanent Access Fabrications), all with a scheduled publication date of December 2026.

These frequent reviews allow the Pump Centre to provide the most up to date, accurate information to our members. With WIMES, we can continue to promote the standardisation of equipment and processes across the water sector to facilitate efficiency and innovation system-wide.

Key Strategic Focus: Slashing AMP8 Procurement Lead Times

In a major strategic move to streamline supply chains for AMP8, the WIMES Electrical Working Group is proactively collaborating with control panel suppliers. The immediate focus is on developing guidance to improve the early engagement of Motor Control Centre (MCC) and System Integrator (SI) Framework Partners during procurement. This initiative may ultimately segue into creating standard circuit diagrams for DOL starters and VSDs - effectively removing engineering bottlenecks, reducing delivery lead times, and driving massive commercial efficiencies.

Looking Ahead: Technical Seminars and Upcoming Events

The Pump Centre continues to build momentum through a robust schedule of technical seminars designed to upskill the sector on critical topics like electrical safety, asset health, and compliance.

Following a successful DSEAR seminar in collaboration with Wessex Water, and a Wastewater Inlet Works seminar in collaboration with Anglian Water, the next key date is a dedicated CBM Technical Seminar set for February 2027 in partnership with Scottish Water. The next official WIMWG meeting will take place on Wednesday 16th September 2026 in Bath, hosted by Wessex Water. This highly anticipated session will feature a live, practical demonstration of rising main pigging equipment in action.

Learn more about WIMES and WIMWG at the Pump Centre.