From Initial UK Interventions to a Growing EMEA Water Partnership
Building a measured pathway from monitoring to implementation
What began in 2022 with small-scale meter installations and practical water-efficiency interventions at several UK locations has developed into an expanding EMEA-wide relationship focused on monitoring, reporting and measurable water reduction.
Client
Microsoft
Sector
Technology • Multi-site EMEA portfolio
Services
Water Auditing • Monitoring • Reporting • Water Intelligence • Efficiency Improvements
The journey began in 2022
The initial engagement involved early discussions, meter installations and practical point-of-use water-saving interventions across several Microsoft locations in the UK. These first projects provided greater local visibility and demonstrated opportunities to reduce avoidable consumption.
Although meters had been installed, remote water monitoring could not begin until the monitoring system received Microsoft’s global DSR approval in 2025. This approval enabled SWAES to securely capture and review consumption data remotely, creating the foundation for consistent monitoring, automated reporting and deeper portfolio insight.
From a London pilot to an EMEA programme
A small London pilot began in 2024. Following global approval, the programme expanded significantly in early 2025, with SWAES undertaking water audits across Microsoft locations throughout EMEA. Site investigation, monitoring data and engineering review are used together to identify discrepancies, persistent consumption and practical opportunities for improvement.
SWAES’s role has consequently developed from individual site interventions into a growing strategic water-intelligence relationship, working alongside Sodexo and Microsoft teams across multiple UK and European locations.
From recommendations to measured implementation
At Microsoft’s European headquarters in Ireland, audit recommendations have progressed into a comprehensive refurbishment of washrooms and showers, supported by full water monitoring. The project is creating a measured operational benchmark that can help inform water-efficiency decisions at other Microsoft buildings across EMEA.
Continued monitoring and reporting will provide clearer evidence of how consumption changes following the improvement works, verify progress and identify where further opportunities remain.
Building the next phase
Across multiple UK and European locations, SWAES has already supported practical interventions intended to reduce consumption. The next phase will continue improving data capture, reporting and technical engagement, allowing SWAES, Sodexo and Microsoft to develop a fuller understanding of where water is being used and act collectively on avoidable losses and more efficient ways of using it.
Into 2027 and beyond, the programme provides a growing foundation for coordinated action and continued reduction of Microsoft’s wider water footprint.