Stream: Unlocking Water Data

We’re back with another edition of Stream: Unlocking Water Data, packed with insights, updates, and exciting projects shaping the future of water data. This is your chance to stay connected with the growing Stream community and be part of the movement shaping the future of water data. Check out the full newsletter now! ?? And if you want to keep up with all the conferences we attend and the insights we share, make sure to follow our page for updates. #StreamWaterData #OpenData #Collaboration #CleanWater #Newsletter

?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????? For years, UK water companies have been responsible for testing and maintaining drinking water quality. But understanding and comparing that data hasn’t always been easy—until now. At Stream: Unlocking Water Data, we’ve worked with 16 water companies to bring together a standardised dataset on Domestic Drinking Water Quality. This means: ? Access to years of drinking water sampling data in one place ? A consistent format that allows for easier comparisons ? Greater transparency to support research, decision-making, and industry-wide improvements Having a shared approach to publishing this data makes a real difference—not just for the industry, but for anyone interested in understanding the quality of their drinking water. We are here to make data ??????????????, ???????? ????????????????????, ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????????. ?? Want to explore the data? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? and see how it all comes together. ?? Want to stay up to date with the latest from Stream? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????????????????. ?? Links in the comments! #HowIUseStream #WaterQuality #OpenData #Transparency #UKWater #DataForGood

If you’re working on water data, climate research, or environmental modeling—this is for you. Next week, we kick off #OpenDataDay 2025, bringing together: ?? Academics & researchers looking for better access to water data. ?? Data scientists & engineers developing new ways to analyse environmental data. ?? Industry leaders & water companies exploring real-world applications of open data. For our first year participating, we’re treating this as a learning experience. We want to understand how we can make open water data more useful for researchers like you. How can we make open water data more valuable for your research? Drop your thoughts in the comments or sign up to our community to stay involved! Link in the comments ?? #OpenKnowledgeFoundation, thanks for leading this movement—excited to be part of it! #StreamOpenDataDay2025 #OpenDataDay #EnvironmentalResearch #Hydrology #ClimateScience #DataSharing #AcademicCollaboration

?? Would easier access to high-quality water data improve your research? For many researchers, access to standardised, reliable, and real-world environmental data is a bottleneck. ?? Datasets are incomplete. ?? Comparing data across sources is difficult. ?? Water sector data is often locked behind regulations and company silos. This is what we’re tackling at #OpenDataDay. For our first year participating, we’re running a multi-site hackathon with universities, water companies, and data experts to: ? Identify gaps in existing water datasets. ? Explore how citizen science & industry data can work together. ? Find new ways to apply open data for real-world environmental challenges. ?? Does this align with your research? Join the discussion and sign up to our platform to get involved now or in the future! Link in the comments ?? #StreamOpenDataDay2025 #OpenDataDay #ResearchData #ClimateScience #WaterQuality #DataForGood

???????????? ????????????????? ????????’?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????! Last week, we had the chance to speak and learn at the State of Open Conference 2025, and it was packed with insights, big ideas, and critical conversations about the future of AI, open data, and the sustainability of open-source projects. A huge thank you to OpenUK for staging yet another fantastic event, bringing together voices from across the industry to tackle some of the biggest challenges in open technology. ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ????????: ???????, ???????????????? & ??????????:?The AI arms race is in full swing, but openness and transparency could be key to fostering trust and innovation. The fully open French AI project #Lucie was showcased, and there were big discussions on how the UK government can better support AI innovation. ???????????-???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????: Open source has matured, but its funding models haven’t kept pace. As Amanda Brock (CEO of Open UK) put it, we need to shift from just funding innovation to also paying for long-term maintenance. At Stream: Unlocking Water Data, we feel this deeply—how do we sustain open water data projects that don’t fit neatly into traditional commercial models? ????????????????????? & ????: A grey area, AI is consuming vast amounts of data, often in ways that stretch (or break) existing licensing agreements. Many open data licences weren’t designed with AI in mind. For Stream: Unlocking Water Data, this raises a big question—should we move to a fully open CC0 license? ?? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ????????????:?Anandhi Bumstead (#OpenSearch) outlined the phases of building a thriving open community: 1?? Get the fundamentals right 2?? Build a strong community by listening and engaging 3?? Build trust within that community 4?? Accelerate innovation once trust is established At Stream: Unlocking Water Data, we’re still early in this journey—working hard to build engagement and earn trust before scaling. ?? “???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ????????”—some golden advice from Nic Granger (North Sea Transition Authority). The key to unlocking the potential of open data? Stop talking about data itself and start talking about outcomes. These were just a few of the key insights! If you found this valuable, share this post with your network! ?? And if you’re passionate about open data, AI, and sustainability, join our community (link in the comments). #StateOfOpen #SOOCON25 #OpenSource #AI #OpenData #StreamOpenData

We want to make sure we're sharing the most valuable content with you. Whether it's insights from the community, behind-the-scenes stories, or real-world applications of Stream data, we'd love to know what interests you most! Let us know by voting below ??Got more ideas? Drop them in the comments! #StreamCommunity #OpenData #DataForGood #Transparency #StreamOpenData #UseCases #Research

Did you know #OpenDataDay is celebrated globally to recognise the transformative power of data? ?? It’s a day for researchers, academics, and citizen scientists to come together and unlock the potential of open data to solve critical challenges. At Stream: Unlocking Water Data, we’re marking this occasion with #OpenDataWeek in March, exploring how open water data can tackle flooding, droughts, and water quality challenges. ??Why does this matter to you? ?For researchers: Access standardised data for impactful studies. ?For academics and students: Use real-world datasets to enrich your work. ?For citizen scientists: Take actionable steps to drive local change. ??????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????—???????? ???? ????????????????! Follow us to access actionable data, get collaboration opportunities, and be part of a movement driving real change. Link in the comments #OpenData #WaterData #ResearchImpact #StreamWaterData #OpenDataWeek #OpenDataDay

?? We all want cleaner rivers, lakes, and seas. But are we unlocking the right data to make it happen? Last month, we kicked off a citizen science discovery to understand how people are tackling the challenge of cleaning up the UK’s waterways. We had powerful conversations with people pushing for change. And one thing was clear: the right data isn’t always accessible. Now, we’re taking the next step. In the next phase of our research, we’re asking: ?? What kind of water company data would actually help drive change? If you’re working on this issue, we want to hear from you. ?? What data would help you take action? ?? What’s missing? ?? What’s stopping you from making a bigger impact? ?? Bookings are now open for the first two weeks of March! If you’re a researcher, academic, or citizen scientist, this is your chance to shape how open data can support real change in the UK’s rivers, lakes, and seas. ?? Sign up for a friendly conversation—link in the comments. #UserResearch #CitizenScience #OpenData #EnvironmentalImpact #StreamOpenData #WaterQuality #ResearchCollaboration

?? Struggling to access the right data for your research? You’re not alone. Across the UK, researchers in environmental science, hydrology, and data analytics face a major challenge: data exists, but it’s fragmented, hard to access, or inconsistent. That’s why the #OpenKnowledgeFoundation created #OpenDataDay, a global movement to unlock and apply open data for real-world impact. ?? This year, Stream: Unlocking Water Data is joining Open Data Day for the first time! We’re bringing together: ?? Academics & universities—to explore new ways to apply water data. ?? Water companies & industry leaders—to identify data gaps & improve accessibility. ?? Tech & data experts—to turn raw data into actionable insights. ?? If you’re a researcher working on water quality, environmental change, or data science, we want you in the conversation! ?? Sign up to our platform to stay updated on how open water data can support your work—this year and beyond! Link in the comments ?? #StreamOpenDataDay2025 #OpenDataDay #ResearchData #AcademicCollaboration #WaterData #EnvironmentalResearch

We’re preparing to launch a user research initiative in March, bringing together researchers, academics, and citizen scientists to explore one big challenge:?? Cleaning up UK rivers, lakes, and seas requires the right tools and datasets—but what’s missing? We’ll be diving into key questions like: ?? What data from water companies would make the biggest impact? ?? What tools would help you access and use that data more effectively? This is your chance to contribute to the future of water data, conservation, and sustainability. Want to be part of the conversation? Join our community today to be the first to know when user research registration opens! Link in the comments ?? #CitizenScience #WaterQuality #DataInnovation #StreamWaterData #OpenData