What is open data? 

Open data is a form of data sharing. In its simplest form, it is data and content that can be freely used, modified, and shared by anyone for any purpose. 

The data is legally open, which in practice generally means that the data is published under an open licence and that the conditions for re-use are limited to attribution. 

The data is technically open, which means that the file is machine-readable and non-proprietary where possible, i.e. not restricted to a given non-open source software tool (e.g. .csv rather than .xslx). 

What does Anglian Water publish? 
Several datasets are already published on the Stream open data portal. Anglian Water is working towards ensuring that more datasets are available in the future. 

 

Other datasets which are available (published but not open) via the Anglian Water website include: 

  • DWMP – Drainage and Waste Management Plan
  • Event Duration Monitor (EDM) / Combined Storm Overflows (CSO)
  • Bioresources market information 2022
  • Bioresources market monitoring  

 

What is Stream? 

Formed by 15 water companies, Stream is redefining the blueprint for water data by co-creating an open data framework for the sector, with the following areas at its core: 

Customers: Using open data insights into water usage, utilities can optimise water management, minimise losses and ultimately pass these savings on to customers. 

Society: The open data framework encourages more data-driven decision making. This results in improved services and the prevention of environmental incidents, benefitting society as a whole. 

Environment: By drawing on collective experience, sharing our research and best practices, we can reach our net-zero goals quicker. This kind of collaboration is crucial for carbon reduction in the water sector. 

Stream formed in April 2020, this group felt that if the benefits of open data were to be maximised then collaboration would be the best way forward. 

Stream is unlocking water data that has the potential to tackle critical sector challenges and create far reaching benefits for customers, society and the environment.  

 

Open data feedback 

To make a query about any open data, published then please email opendata@anglianwater.co.uk 

If you are requesting Environmental information/data then please email EIR@anglianwater.co.uk  

For further information about open data then take a look at the ODI website. 

Open data characteristics and rationale 

Our general approach is to be transparent about our performance, unless disclosure would be in breach of the law (including the GDPR), open us or others to the risk of commercial loss, or facilitate actions by parties who seek to damage our assets or operations. These considerations have influenced our decisions on the characteristics we have chosen. 


The FAIR principles show the characteristics and the rationale of open data, which is set by the Water Sector Open Data Roadmap. As part of the Water Sector Open Data Roadmap, Anglian Water is keen to go beyond the FAIR principles, to ensure that data being published is both Open and Ethical. Therefore, the FAIR principles have been expanded upon to the FAIROE principles which all water companies will adhere to.  
  
The following steps are taken directly from the FAIR Principles, while ‘Open’ aligns with The Open Definition from the Open Knowledge Foundation and World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards, and ‘Ethical’ aligns with best practice from the Open Data Institute (ODI).