Stream, a UK water open data initiative, has been recognised for its innovative work in promoting data sharing within the water sector, winning an Esri ‘Special Achievement in GIS Award’ at the Esri annual User Conference in California. The award, presented by Esri’s President Jack Dangermond, highlights Stream’s role in facilitating collaboration and transparency among water companies, innovators, citizens, regulators, and interest groups.
The initiative leverages Esri technology to create an open data sharing portal, serving as a central hub for a wide range of data from UK water companies. This includes natural environment and water consumption information, driving improved decision-making and collaboration within the sector.
Nigel Watson, Group CIO for Northumbrian Water Group and executive sponsor for Stream, expressed delight at the recognition, stating, “Stream is delighted to receive this award and be recognised for its landmark innovation. Driving improved transparency, collaboration and smarter decisions, the open data platform is the foundation of a new era for the UK water sector. Stream is quickly becoming a core piece of UK national data infrastructure thanks to the unprecedented level of collaboration.”
One of Stream’s notable achievements is the delivery of the National Storm Overflow Hub in partnership with Water UK. This hub presents the world’s first interactive storm overflows map and associated APIs, showing the location and live operation of every single storm overflow in England in near-real time. By providing a standardised source of overflow data from all water companies, Stream has enabled broad use of the data by third parties, including notification apps for recreational water users, modellers developing new ways of predicting and improving river health, and regulators monitoring water company performance.
Since the Stream platform went live in April 2024, over 125 datasets have been published on open licence. These include water consumption data, drinking water quality data, live and historical storm overflow data, and leakage nightline data. Stream has also collaborated with innovation projects to ensure easy access to the data they need. For instance, River Deep Mountain AI, with support from Stream, has published its first set of open source river risk models built upon open data. Additionally, international researchers have used drinking water quality datasets published on Stream to explore the challenges surrounding the historic use of lead piping.
This recognition underscores the potential of geospatial technology to address complex problems and drive innovation. As Jack Dangermond noted, “Users around the world are demonstrating that geospatial technology enables us to see complex problems better to understand them, re-imagine them and reveal solutions. It is my honour to recognise these organisations for all the unique ways they are using GIS to innovate across industries and improve decision-making.”
Stream’s success highlights the growing importance of open data and collaboration in the water sector. By providing a centralised platform for data sharing, Stream is not only enhancing transparency but also fostering innovation and improving decision-making processes. This initiative sets a precedent for other sectors to follow, demonstrating the power of open data in driving progress and addressing critical challenges.