EVENTS NEWS
Environmental resilience centred at British Water Conference
Building an effective and resilient ecosystem of stakeholders to drive improvements in the environment was the sharp focus of the second British Water annual conference, which took place in Brighton, UK, on 26 November 2024.
Up to 250 key industry stakeholders and senior leaders from regulators, water companies, consultants, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, and academia came together to share best practice and contribute practical, collaborative solutions to the many challenges faced by the water sector.
Lila Thompson, chief executive of British Water said, “Recognising that we are approaching the next regulatory period in England and Wales, and Scotland and Northern Ireland’s need for increased investment - it is fitting that we are coming together for British Water’s second annual conference.
“Reducing pollution and increasing river and bathing water quality is a focus of proposed investment for Ofwat in the PR24 period and increased targeted investment will improve the sectors’ performance. Exploring how we can improve the environment in its broadest sense, with senior industry stakeholders, should deliver exponential change as new ways of working across the sector are identified for implementation.”
Nick Mills, director of environment and innovation at Southern Water, set the scene in an opening keynote address, before delegates heard views from senior leaders from industry regulators Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, and the
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Brighton sea front, the location of the 2024 conference
Lila Thompson, CEO British Water
Environment Agency, along with industry
association Water UK, on the
trajectory of change they expected to see from the water companies.
Achieving better river water quality, nutrient reduction, and an ambitious storm overflow programme were explored, along with the need for further investment in areas such as bioresources, innovative infrastructure, and digital transformation, including artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
British Water has long championed the interests of manufacturing and supply chain companies, and the Annual Conference had dedicated sessions which highlighted the tangible innovations, case studies, and practical solutions which are now available.
Professor Chris Digman, executive technical director at engineering consultancy Stantec, influence sponsor for the event, chaired a session sharing best practice case studies, as well as reflecting
| December 2024 |
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on rapid developments in digital transformation.
Building on the 2023 conference, the need for a collective response to the sector’s challenge on communicating and engaging with customers and communities was explored. The session, chaired by The Water Report founder and editor Karma Loveday, asked experienced journalists and communicators including Mark Wiltsher, senior director of communications at Ofwat, how the industry can develop and convey a common vision and purpose.
Mark Fletcher, British Water chair and global water business leader at Arup said, “The supply chain is at the forefront of innovation, from harnessing AI and digital technologies, to creating bespoke modular solutions to help the water sector tackle environmental challenges. This conference provides the perfect opportunity for academia, suppliers, manufacturers, contractors and consultants to showcase the art-of-the-possible in terms of practical and robust water quality solutions.”
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