Article
Contract Award Notice: Southern Water Appoints Horizon Water Infrastructure for Water Meter Upgrade Rollout
12 August 2025
Horizon Water Infrastructure (HWI) is proud to announce its appointment by Southern Water to deliver an industry-leading water meter upgrade programme, involving the replacement of one million meters over the next five years.
This strategic initiative represents a major step forward in the modernisation of metering infrastructure across Southern Water’s network and reflects our shared commitment to enhancing customer insight and engagement, improving water efficiency, optimising network performance, and supporting environmental sustainability.
The Southern Water Meter Upgrade Programme is a cornerstone in accelerating digital transformation within the water sector. Through the implementation of advanced metering technologies, the programme is designed to deliver tangible benefits to customers, the environment, and the overall performance of the water network.
The objectives of the programme include:
- Delivering 1 million meter replacements over five years
- Improving customer insight and engagement through enhanced metering technologies
- Enhancing water efficiency across the clean water network service area
- Optimising network performance for greater reliability and efficiency
- Supporting environmental sustainability through data-driven solutions
To deliver this ambitious programme, we have formed the Horizon Water Infrastructure Southern Water Alliance (HWI SWS Alliance) – a collaborative partnership, led by us, with SUEZ and M Group Water. This Alliance brings together first-class delivery, technology and innovation experts with a proven track record in large-scale infrastructure and water metering programmes.
The HWI SWS Alliance leverages cutting-edge expertise and a commitment to innovation to ensure successful execution. This model is designed to deliver excellence, innovation and flexibility at scale – replicating proven successes from other sectors to raise the bar in water metering.
Daniel Reilly, Managing Director of Horizon Water Infrastructure, commented:“We’re extremely proud to partner with Southern Water on this groundbreaking meter upgrade programme setting a new industry benchmark for efficiency, excellence, and impact. As the first provider of an alternative meter service appointed as a prime contractor, HWI, in collaboration with our Alliance partners, will deliver a future-ready model that redefines what’s possible in the water sector.”
This contract award underpins Southern Water’s commitment to future-ready solutions that address the evolving needs of customers, stakeholders, and the environment.
Southern Water’s Chief Customer Officer, Antonia Barton, added:“Our industry leading programme will empower customers to track and learn about their water consumption, enable more accurate billing and help detect leaks. We’re pleased to be working with Horizon Water Infrastructure to deliver benefits that will translate into potential cost savings to our customers, reduced environmental impact, and help manage our water sources sustainably across the South East.”
We are proud to lead this strategic metering programme in collaboration with Southern Water and our Alliance partners—modernising operations, supporting long-term water sustainability in the South East, and setting a new benchmark for large-scale transformation. We look forward to sharing updates as key milestones are achieved.
