Water is a shared resource—and a shared responsibility. At The Rivers Trust, we believe that partnering with businesses of all sizes is essential to tackling the UK and Ireland’s most pressing water challenges.  

Through our Water Stewardship Service and the Catchment Based Approach (CaBA), we help organisations take meaningful, place-based action that benefits both nature and business. 

We align with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) definition: 

“The use of water that is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial, achieved through a stakeholder-inclusive process that includes both site- and catchment-based actions.” 

Our Water Stewardship Service is a one-stop-shop which helps businesses to work at catchment scale and deliver sustainable solutions for water. We can support companies to deliver practical solutions in meeting ambitious water neutrality or reduction goals. Our understanding of the national and local challenges makes us a valuable partner when delivering at scale and pace. 

We offer a unique combination of national insight and local delivery. As part of the CaBA network, we connect businesses with over 100 Catchment Partnerships and 65 local Rivers Trusts to deliver on-the-ground action at scale and pace. 

By working with us, businesses can: 

• Reduce water-related risks to operations and supply chains 

• Meet ambitious water neutrality or reduction goals 

• Enhance ESG and sustainability credentials 

• Support biodiversity, climate resilience, and community wellbeing 

We tailor our support to business needs—whether your business is just starting the water stewardship journey or scaling up your impact. 

• Catchment Brokering: Connect with local partnerships to co-design effective, place-based interventions. 

• Risk & Opportunity Mapping: Understand water challenges across your supply chains and sourcing regions. 

• Water-Sensitive Farming: Support regenerative agriculture and sustainable land management in your supply chains. 

• Nature-Based Solutions: Restore wetlands, woodlands, and river habitats to improve water quality and resilience. 

• Replenishment Projects: investing in projects that restore natural water cycles and replenish your water footprint. 

• Monitoring & Reporting: Transparent, data-driven updates to track progress and demonstrate impact. 

• Staff Volunteering Days: Connect teams with local rivers and communities. 

• Training & Guidance: Build internal understanding of water stewardship principles. 

• Collaborative Innovation: Join a growing network of businesses, NGOs, and public bodies shaping the future of water governance. 

Our inclusive, agile approach means we build the right partnerships for every project, ensuring private investment delivers real, lasting change. 

If you are interested in learning more about the CaBA Water Stewardship Service and how it could help your business, please contact: alex@theriverstrust.org and seren.patterson@theriverstrust.org