• Balancing wastewater and clean water investment and ensuring treatment capacity keeps up with economic growth. 

• Working with local authorities to introduce more sustainable approaches to drainage 

• Managing public pressures and expectations across AMP8 and AMP9  

• Helping WASCs meet requirements from Section 82 of the Environment Act  

• Scapegoat or at fault? Improving ODI processes for tackling knock-on effects from other sector issues upstream 

Hear from Scottish Water and Northern Ireland Water as we explore how publicly owned utilities can strengthen responsibility and accountability for environmental spills while navigating the next phase of regulatory change. With a focus on preparing for SR27 in Scotland and PC28 in Northern Ireland, the discussion will examine how longer-term investment planning and regulatory cycles can drive better environmental outcomes, and what England and Wales can learn. Drawing on alternative approaches to spill-target models, speakers will consider how environmental improvement can be meaningfully measured and incentivised, and how closer collaboration with related sectors, particularly agriculture, can help deliver shared goals for water quality and environmental resilience

Opening remarks from Adler & Allan followed by a discussion on CSO challenges and opportunities.

The water industry faces pressing questions about sustainability, affordability, and resilience. Key issues include whether current approaches to CSOs are sustainable, how relationships between WASCs, regulators, and customers can be strengthened to ensure investor confidence, and how the sector can balance regulatory goals with affordability. The sector must also consider its preparedness for increasingly frequent extreme weather events.  

This panel will explore whether longer AMP cycles could better support infrastructure upgrades, the extent of synergy vs siloed working among UK WASCs, the potential of innovation and digitisation to reduce spills, and the level of risk-taking encouraged across the industry.  

• Taking a proactive approach to sewer rising main failure detection 

• Building network resilience through a greater understanding of assets 

• Maximising outcomes from data

• Using volunteers to measure sewer overflow impacts to bathing water

Introducing our new ‘Dragons’ Den’ quickfire solutions session. Hear from our best-in-class partners who will deliver a 2-minute pitch, designed to help you identify the latest innovations.  

 

• Reimagine workflows: Real-world examples of how breaking data silos and bridging the skills gap with agentic video intelligence empowers operators to make faster, informed decisions and close the loop between intent and execution 

• Increasing the skilled workers and key resources needed to deliver the planned intensive programme to reduce sewage overflows
• How can we ensure we remain competitive for global resources when capacity is low?
• Maximising diversity and inclusion

Put yourself in another roles’ shoes in this role-play style session, created to help the sector collaborate effectively and develop a greater understanding of challenges up and down the supply chain.

Conversation points include:
•    In your newly assigned role, what are the first steps you would take to progress and scale up AMP8 delivery?
•    In your role how would you engage other members of the supply chain and build credibility?
•    What is the most impactful first step in adapting wastewater policy, planning, or regulatory frameworks to meet growing infrastructure demand across the UK? 
 

• Balancing extreme weather, the need for new homes and the forecasted supply/demand deficit
• Helping drainage stay sustainable for new development as well as retrofitting
• Ensuring net zero continues to be a priority  
• Exploring how regulation can help us achieve better rainwater management at source

• Adopting new ways of working to accelerate progress

• Exploring the operational impact on M Group's projects using FYLD 
   

An interactive session where WWT passes the mic to delegates to share their views on stormwater overflows, and how to shape short-term tighter regulatory demands and long-term strategies. Are WASCs, policymakers and the full supply chain united in their efforts? What do we need clarity on?

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