OS MasterMap Water Network Layer End of Life information
The End of Life information for the OS MasterMap Water Network Layer product, containing key dates, the reasoning behind the product withdrawal, product migration guidance, and FAQs.
Overview
The OS MasterMap Water Network Layer product (also referred to as OS MasterMap Networks – Water Layer) reached its End of Life on 31 March 2026. As of this date, Ordnance Survey ceased to maintain or publish updates, and removed access to the product from the OS Data Hub, OS Features API and OS Vector Tile API.
Key dates
Final publication of the product: January 2026
Full withdrawal date: 31 March 2026
End of Life documentation removed: 31 March 2027
Why is this happening?
As part of our strategic product roadmap, OS is committed to the evolution of geospatial data and services in order to meet customers’ needs. Through the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA), OS continuously delivers enhancements to the OS National Geographic Database (OS NGD) to provide new, richer data across all market sectors. We’ve improved usability by providing customers with access to the latest OS NGD data enhancements via new systems (the OS Data Hub and APIs) rather than via older and less efficient mechanisms. As a result, some of our existing products will become out of date and reach the end of their life.
The OS MasterMap Water Network Layer product is the first OS MasterMap Premium Download product to become End of Life, and we are actively working to migrate existing customers to the OS NGD.
We understand this change will impact customers, and we are committed to providing guidance and support to facilitate a smooth migration to OS NGD.
What's the product migration path?
We recommend you migrate to using the data in the OS NGD Water Network Collection as it contains very similar data content to OS MasterMap Water Network Layer – see the Comparison of Water Network Products page for a full comparison of the data supply, available formats, and attribution between the two products.
The update frequency is quarterly for both the OS MasterMap Water Network Layer product and the OS NGD Water Network Collection (January, April, July, October).
Pricing and licensing terms for the OS NGD Water Network Collection are comparable for OS Partners.
What are the benefits to using OS NGD Water Network Collection data?
Data is accessed through the OS Data Hub and is available to download from OS Select+Build in two widely adopted and simple to use formats – GeoPackage and CSV (comma-separated values). Data is also available via two OS NGD APIs: OS NGD API – Features and OS NGD API – Tiles.
It provides greater analytical ability from more detailed attribution (for example, describing watercourse type and physical containment).
The names of watercourses (where present) are given at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, including language alternatives.
The enhancement to improve the width of watercourses, due in September 2025, offers improved methods of calculation and greater coverage across Great Britain to support hydrological modelling.
The Water Link Set Feature Type provides a single geometry for a complete named watercourse, making it easier to understand whole rivers.
You can perform analytics and visual interpretation for flood modelling, particularly when used in combination with data from other OS NGD collections (for example, the OS NGD Building Features Collection).
Further information
This page will be regularly updated with additional documentation, including specific migration guidance and FAQs to support you:
Comparison of Water Network Products – This page provides a technical summary of things to consider when migrating from OS MasterMap Water Network Layer to the OS NGD Water Network Collection. It covers data supply and formats, as well a comparison of the attribution of the two products.
Reach out to our support team if you have any concerns or questions.
FAQs
Will the OS Open Rivers product be impacted by OS MasterMap Water Network Layer product becoming End of Life?
No. OS Open Rivers will not be impacted by this.
Can I keep a copy of the final version of OS MasterMap Water Network?
PSGA Members can keep a copy of the final version of OS MasterMap Water Network product and can continue to use it under their PSGA Member Licence.
OS Partners can also keep a copy of the final version of OS MasterMap Water Network product and allow their customers holding a licence for OS NGD Water Network to use it.
Any OS customers with an OS MasterMap Water Network Licence but not holding a licence for OS NGD Water Network can keep a copy of the final version of the OS MasterMap Water Network product for archive (professional indemnity) purposes only.
In all cases, the OS MasterMap Water Network product will be unmaintained after 31 March 2026.
How long will I have access to existing OS MasterMap Water Network Layer data packages on the OS Data Hub?
New data packages and download orders from your OS Data Hub account are available for 12 months from the initial request date. Product updates are available for 12 months from the date the update was produced.
Will technical documentation (Overview, Technical Specification, Getting Started Guide) about the product be kept on the OS Download Products' Documentation site after the product becomes End of Life?
Yes. Supporting technical documentation about the product won't be removed from this documentation site until April 2027 at the earliest (i.e. 12 months after the date the product became End of Life, and after access to pre-existing data packages on the OS Data Hub for existing customers is no longer available). Supporting documentation includes the product's Overview, Technical Specification and Getting Started Guide.
Last updated
Was this helpful?