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Last updated October 2026.
Who supplies business water: wholesaler or retailer?
Two companies are involved in every business water supply. The wholesaler is the regional water and sewerage company that owns the pipes, treats the water and takes the wastewater away; it is fixed by location and sets the wholesale charges that make up most of the bill. The retailer is the licensed company that bills you, reads the meter, handles queries and adds a retail fee; in England and Scotland you choose it. When people ask who the business water suppliers are, they usually mean the retailers, and that is the list below.
Wholesalers in England and Wales include Thames Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, Southern Water, South West Water, Wessex Water, Northumbrian Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy and the water-only companies such as Affinity, South East Water, Cambridge Water, Portsmouth, Bristol, South Staffs and SES Water. In Scotland the wholesaler is Scottish Water.
Which companies are business water retailers in England and Scotland?
| Retailer | Background | Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Business Stream | Owned by Scottish Water; one of the largest retailers, trading since the Scottish market opened in 2008 | England and Scotland |
| Castle Water | Independent retailer based in Blairgowrie; took on a large share of the former Thames Water business customer base | England and Scotland |
| Water Plus | Joint venture of Severn Trent and United Utilities | England and Scotland |
| Wave | Joint venture of Anglian Water and Northumbrian Water | England and Scotland |
| Everflow | Independent retailer based in the North East, focused on smaller businesses | England and Scotland |
| Clear Business Water | Part of Verastar, which also trades energy and telecoms as Clear Business | England and Scotland |
| SES Business Water | Retail arm associated with SES Water in the South East | England |
| water2business | Joint venture of Bristol Water and Wessex Water | England |
| Source for Business | Pennon Group’s business water retailer in the South West | England |
| Pozitive Water | Formerly First Business Water; acquired by Pozitive Energy in 2023 | England |
| Veolia Water Retail | Retail arm of Veolia in the UK | England |
The market operator, MOSL, publishes the full list of licensed retailers in England; the Water Industry Commission for Scotland publishes the Scottish list. Retailers come and go, and some trade under more than one brand, so check the licence register if a name is unfamiliar. We work with a panel of these retailers through The Business Water Shop, our sister company.
Want this priced for your meters?
Send us a recent bill and we will compare the suppliers on our panel on the same start date and term, and show you the annual cost of each option. No obligation.
What about Wales and Northern Ireland?
In Wales only premises using 50 megalitres or more a year can choose a retailer; everyone else is supplied by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water or, in the north-east, Hafren Dyfrdwy, and the retail market does not apply. Northern Ireland has no retail market and businesses are supplied by NI Water. In both, bill validation, leak allowances and surface water drainage rebates still apply, so a review is worthwhile even without a switch.
How do you compare business water suppliers when the water costs the same?
- Retail fee. The margin the retailer adds; it is the only price element that differs.
- Billing accuracy and frequency. Monthly or quarterly, actual reads or estimates, consolidated billing across sites.
- Service. How queries are handled, how quickly, and whether there is a named contact.
- Added services. Leak detection, automated meter reading, water efficiency audits, trade effluent management.
- Handling of allowances and rebates. Whether the retailer proactively pursues leak allowances and surface water corrections or waits to be asked.
- Contract terms. Length, notice period, exit terms.
Business water contracts explains what is negotiable, wholesale versus retail explains the split, and how to switch covers the process.
Business water supplier questions
Who are the business water suppliers in the UK?
In England and Scotland, licensed retailers such as Business Stream, Castle Water, Water Plus, Wave, Everflow, Clear Business Water, SES Business Water, water2business, Source for Business, Pozitive Water and Veolia Water Retail bill business customers; the regional water companies remain the wholesalers. In Wales and Northern Ireland the regional company supplies most businesses directly.
What is the best business water supplier?
There is no single best retailer; the water and wastewater charges are set by the wholesaler and are the same whoever bills you. Compare retailers on the retail fee, billing accuracy, service, added services and how they handle allowances and rebates.
Can I choose my business water supplier?
Yes in England and Scotland, for any non-household premises. In Wales only sites using 50 megalitres or more a year can switch, and Northern Ireland has no retail market.
Why use a business water supplier other than the regional water company?
Because in England and Scotland the regional company no longer retails to businesses; a licensed retailer does. Choosing one with a lower retail fee, better billing and proactive handling of rebates is where the value is.
How do business water suppliers set their prices?
The wholesaler publishes annual tariffs for water, wastewater, drainage and trade effluent; the retailer adds its retail fee and may bundle services. Your bill is the regional wholesale tariff plus the retail element.
Does Clearsight Energy compare business water suppliers?
Yes, through our sister company The Business Water Shop, which compares a panel of licensed retailers for businesses in England and Scotland and reviews bills for sites that cannot switch.
Want this priced for your meters?
Send us a recent bill and we will compare the suppliers on our panel on the same start date and term, and show you the annual cost of each option. No obligation.