To boost climate resilience and protect the environment, UK water utility Severn Trent is working with satellite technology firm Iceye to enhance flood and wastewater management.

Severn Trent, one of the UK’s largest water utility companies serving over eight million customers, is leveraging Iceye’s flood insights, powered by synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, to monitor inundation to its wastewater assets. This collaboration supports Severn Trent’s commitment to meeting Environment Agency regulatory requirements while improving transparency, operational response and public trust.

“This is a transformational step forward for us,” said Richard Walwyn, head of asset intelligence at Severn Trent. “Iceye’s satellite technology gives us a clear view of what’s happened on the ground during extreme weather despite cloud coverage. Having a better understanding of how inundation affects our assets enables us to plan interventions and optimise how our network performs to minimise impacts for our customers and the environment.”

Severn Trent is the first UK water utility to adopt Iceye’s SAR satellite technology, marking a shift in how the industry tackles flooding and storm-related disruptions. The relationship began by assessing how past floods impacted critical infrastructure in Shrewsbury, one of England’s most flood-prone towns due to the River Severn, and is now expanding access across the company’s full service area.

Following severe weather, the satellite data enable Severn Trent to assess rapidly flood extent and depth. By integrating the data into its existing GIS and applying data science to analyse its sensor readings, Severn Trent can get a better understanding of the impact of river flooding on its waste network. Severn Trent uses this capability to improve incident transparency and identify preventative measures to mitigate inundation and its impact on wastewater management services.

“With the pressure on water companies to act faster and communicate better during climate events, our flood data give Severn Trent the clarity it needs to protect its customers, serving as a source of storm impact data,” said Andy Read from Iceye. “We’re proud to support utility companies and water management organisations around the world, setting the standard for innovation and responsibility.”

Headquartered in Coventry, Severn Trent (www.severntrent.com) is responsible for water supply management and wastewater treatment, delivering services while maintaining a commitment to environmental sustainability, innovation and community investment.

Finland-based Iceye (www.iceye.com) delivers persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth. The company operates internationally with offices in Finland, USA, Poland, Spain, UK, Australia, Japan, UAE and Greece. It has more than 800 employees.