The UK water industry is undergoing its largest investment cycle in decades, and PLC programmers are at the heart of this transformation. With regulatory pressure to improve water quality, reduce leakage, and upgrade ageing infrastructure, water companies are investing billions in automation. Here is why this sector deserves your attention.
The Scale of Investment
UK water companies are collectively investing over GBP 88 billion between 2025 and 2030 under the Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) regulatory cycle. A significant portion of this investment goes toward upgrading control systems, installing new automation equipment, and modernising treatment processes.
This means thousands of PLC programming, SCADA, and commissioning roles will be created across the country.
What PLC Programmers Do in Water
Water industry PLC work is diverse and technically challenging:
- Treatment process control — Programming PLCs to manage chemical dosing, filtration, UV treatment, and sludge processing
- Pumping station automation — Controlling pump sets, managing wet well levels, and implementing duty-standby-assist sequences
- Telemetry and remote monitoring — Configuring outstations that communicate with central SCADA systems across hundreds of remote sites
- Flow and pressure management — Programming control loops for District Metered Areas to reduce leakage
- Storm overflow monitoring — Installing and programming event duration monitors to comply with environmental regulations
PLC Platforms Used in Water
The UK water industry predominantly uses:
- Siemens S7-1200 and S7-1500 — The most common PLCs in new water projects
- Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix — Used by several water companies and their framework contractors
- Schneider Modicon M340 and M580 — Present in some legacy and new installations
- ABB AC500 — Used in specific water company regions
SCADA platforms include Wonderware, ClearSCADA (by Schneider), and Ignition, with increasing adoption of cloud-based monitoring solutions.
Why Water Is Attractive for PLC Engineers
Several factors make the water industry an excellent career choice:
- Job stability — Water is an essential service. Demand does not fluctuate with economic cycles.
- Regulated investment — The five-year AMP cycles guarantee sustained capital expenditure.
- Variety — Projects range from small pumping station upgrades to major treatment works rebuilds.
- Social impact — Your work directly improves public health and environmental quality.
- Salary premiums — Water industry PLC roles often pay five to ten per cent above general manufacturing equivalents.
How to Get Into Water Industry PLC Work
- Get trained on Siemens platforms — S7-1200 and TIA Portal skills are essential. <a href="/courses/professional">EDWartens' professional PLC courses</a> cover these platforms comprehensively.
- Learn about telemetry — Understanding how outstations communicate via GPRS, radio, and fibre networks is valuable.
- Understand water processes — Basic knowledge of treatment processes, pumping hydraulics, and water quality parameters sets you apart.
- Target framework contractors — Companies like Binnies, MWH Treatment, Jacobs, and Mott MacDonald hold multi-year contracts with water companies and hire PLC engineers continuously.
- Consider contracting — Water industry contractor day rates range from GBP 350 to GBP 500, with long-term placements common.
Regional Hotspots
PLC roles in the water sector are distributed across the UK, with concentrations around:
- North West — United Utilities catchment area
- South West — South West Water and Wessex Water regions
- Yorkshire — Yorkshire Water's extensive asset base
- Midlands — Severn Trent Water operations
The Future
The combination of regulatory investment, climate adaptation needs, and an ageing workforce means the water industry will need PLC programmers for decades to come. Engineers who enter this sector now will build expertise that remains in demand for their entire careers.