From April 2017 non-household water customers in England will be able to choose their retailer for the first time. It's called the ‘Open Water' programme — and we're at the heart of making it happen. The Open Water programme is led by the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the water industry regulator, Ofwat. We're working closely with Defra and Ofwat to: - Deliver the core IT systems that will enable registration, customer switching and settlement between wholesalers and retailers, and - Offer our water company members support and advice on their business readiness activities as we approach the opening of the new market.