Agenda: WWT Wastewater 2026

DAY 1 – WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE & NETWORKS
DAY 2 – WASTEWATER TREATMENT & NET ZERO

WEATHERING THE STORM: NAVIGATING WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY IN AMP8
9:20 AM																KEYNOTE: Aligning wastewater regulation and responding to the Cunliffe Review Prioritising wastewater investment and ensuring sector growth keeps up with inflation Enabling WASCs to comply with Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act while working with local authorities 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 Senior Representative, Water UK
9:40 AM																Fireside chat: What have we learnt in the past year? Reflecting on the start of the new AMP period Preparing for SR27 in Scotland - Increasing investment and regulatory cycles What can we learn from international spill target models? Paul Davison, Head of Wastewater Strategy, Northern Ireland Water Karen Dee, Wastewater Service Strategy General Manager, Scottish Water
10:10 AM																PANEL DISCUSSION: How can we optimise networks to reduce CSO spills in AMP8 and beyond? 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. Representative, Adler & Allan Christine Moloney, Water Recycling Network Director, Wessex Water
11:15 AM																Refreshments, networking and exhibition

LEVERAGING SMART NETWORKS AND INNOVATION
11:45 AM																Data-driven failure detection Taking a proactive approach to sewer rising main failure detection Implementing a real-time control network Building network resilience through a greater understanding of assets Kirill Horoshenkov, Professor of Acoustics, University of Sheffield
12:00 PM																Increasing situational awareness of data Maximising outcomes from data Brian Moloney, CEO, StormHarvester
12:15 PM																Optimising sewer mapping Understanding your asset network through digital twins Improving blockage detection through increased photography and imaging Increasing data visibility and reaping the benefits of improved insights
12:30 PM																Q&A SESSION WITH PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
12:40 PM																Dragons’ Den: Maximising innovative technologies to future-proof wastewater assets 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.   Chaired by Oli Raud, Associate Director, Isle Utilities
1:00 PM																Fork buffet lunch, networking and exhibition

STREAM A: MAXIMISING SKILLS AND COLLABORATION ON THE PATH TO AMP8 AND AMP9 DELIVERY
2:00 PM																Using standard assets to accelerate wastewater infrastructure upgrades Collaborating with supply chain partners to drive progress Protecting the environment while providing better value for consumers
2:15 PM																Exploring new avenues to plug the skills gap 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 Roselyn Unegbu, Delivery Director of Non-Infrastructure, Thames Water
2:30 PM																Q&A SESSION WITH PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
2:45 PM																IDEATION SESSION: Collaboration and supply chain management How can we encourage holistic collaboration between WASCs, Tier-1s and framework and delivery partners? How can the sector build credibility and strong relationships with the supply chain? How can we accelerate progress and ramp up delivery throughout the rest of AMP8? Is there a silver bullet to invigorate current concrete structures to adapt to increased customer demand?

STREAM B: DELIVERING ON SECTOR CSO PROMISES
2:00 PM																Why we need to get better at managing rain where it lands and how can we do it? 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 Matt Wheeldon, Head of Infrastructure Development, Wessex Water
2:15 PM																Taking risks to accelerate storm overflow programme delivery Increasing sewer monitoring and aligning with Section 82 Adopting new ways of working to accelerate progress Jon Stokes, Head of Storm Overflows Delivery & Head of Yorkshire Storm Alliance, Yorkshire Water
2:30 PM																Q&A SESSION WITH PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
2:45 PM																Storm the stage: Who pays for stormwater failures - stakeholders or polluters? 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? Led by Matt Wheeldon, Head of Infrastructure Development, Wessex Water

OPTIMISING BATHING WATER STRATEGIES
3:50 PM																Swimming in the Seine: a multifaceted approach to reducing CSO spills and improving bathing waters for the Olympics and Parisians Insight into the Seine cleanup project – ensuring the River Seine is swimmable Roseline Klein, Head of Product Management, AQUADVANCED - SUEZ
4:05 PM																The stakeholder impact: Utilising Citizen Science Using volunteers to measure sewer overflow impacts to bathing water Nathan Lawson, Bathing Water Partnership & Engagement Manager, Yorkshire Water
4:20 PM																Clarifying designated bathing water regulations Understanding expected regulatory changes and the impacts to penalties Aligning flooding, leakage and misconnections Helen Dobby, Head of Environmental Performance, South West Water
4:35 PM																Q&A session with previous speakers
4:45 PM																Chair’s closing remarks and close of DAY 1 - WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE & NETWORKS James Wallin, Editor in Chief, Utility Week
4:50 PM																Drinks reception and networking Join us for a relaxed drinks reception following the first day of the conference. This is a great opportunity to unwind, network with fellow attendees, and continue the day's conversations over refreshments.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO NET ZERO
9:00 AM																Keynote: What do we want from our waterways? Managing costs in achieving optimal river health across the UK Increasing public health incentives in wastewater legislation Are all waterways equal? Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer,, The Rivers Trust
9:15 AM																Understanding the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and long-term impacts What can we learn from the European model? Adaptive planning to tackle climate change Advancing the circular economy by promoting resource recovery and reuse Mark Craig, Long Term Asset Strategy Lead, Severn Trent Water
9:30 AM																Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions Utilising green solutions as standard Promoting biodiversity and regreening areas Improving water quality in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas Kat Broadhead, Principal Officer, Natural England
9:45 AM																Q&A SESSION WITH PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
10:00 AM																PANEL DISCUSSION: How can we lead in the age of climate disruption? How can we better prepare for expected periods of drought amid increased demand? To what extent has public opinion shifted around hosepipe bans and water usage? Are we prepared for increased risks of surface water and sewer flooding amid urbanisation? To what extent are the current sustainability drivers and targets progressive? Representative, South West Water Matt Moore, Strategic Flood & Partnership Manager, Anglian Water

STREAM A: TACKLING NUTRIENTS, CHEMICALS AND MICROPOLLUTANTS
11:05 AM																International case study: Nutrient removal Learnings from strict nutrient standards in North America Opportunities for implementing nutrient reduction in existing systems East vs West: Phosphorus removal strategies across Canada Tanner Devlin, Professor, University of Manitoba
11:20 AM																The latest on the National Chemical Investigation Programme (CIP3) Insight into UKWIR’s investigations into the occurrence, sources and removal of trace substances from wastewater networks Megan Robertson, Senior Environmental Scientist, Wessex Water & UKWIR
11:35 AM																Case Study: Catchment Systems Thinking (CaST) Implementing a holistic approach to tackling phosphates Managing catchments with land and water quality in mind Jack Spees, Chief Executive, Ribble Rivers trust
11:50 AM																Q&A SESSION WITH PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
12:00 PM																IDEATION SESSION – How can we better tackle PFAS? How can we tackle PFOS in trade effluents? How can we achieve standardisation? Should the sector still explore the polluter pays model, for PFAS, phosphorus and other contamination? What innovations are challenging the status quo in tackling forever chemicals?

STREAM B: LOOKING BEYOND GREY SOLUTIONS
11:05 AM																Are Nature-Based Solutions the future of the wastewater sector? Exploring proven benefits to NBS Rivalling traditional grey solutions Aligning policy and funding to boost the rollout of NBS Representative, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water
11:20 AM																Green solution innovation Learnings from retrofitting SuDS in a large city Rolling out SuDS on a larger scale for surface water infiltration Engaging the community in green projects from funding to maintenance Representative, Severn Trent Water
11:35 AM																International case study: Vancouver’s sustainable drainage Sustainable drainage in the rain intensive city of Vancouver Promoting sustainable rainwater management to enhances Vancouver's climate change resilience Amy Sidwell, Director – Urban Watersheds, Sewers & Drainage, Vancouver City Council
11:50 AM																Q&A SESSION WITH PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
12:05 PM																Panel discussion: Translating intent into impact – investing in green solutions Are we reaping commercial benefits of green solutions? Why is there a persistent gap between sustainability commitments and real-world outcomes? Are investors sufficiently incentivized to fund early-stage or nature-based solutions? How can we break down silos between finance, government, NGOs, and innovators? Kathryn Waugh, Head of Strategy and Planning, Northumbrian Water

MAXIMISING BIORESOURCES AND CIRCULAR TREATMENT
1:40 PM																Forging a net zero future: Tackling process emissions Insight into the world's first Net Zero hub for wastewater treatment Using new technologies to reduce, remove and offset process emissions Representative, Severn Trent Water
1:55 PM																Case study: Final effluent Upgrading treatment processes to increase final effluent reuse in the next 5 years Reusing treated wastewater for irrigation of crops Addressing stakeholder concerns Representative, Southern Water
2:05 PM																Scaling up circularity approaches Using algae to increase carbon capture Balancing environmental benefit with cost-effectiveness Matt Pickersgill, Wastewater Innovation Co-ordinator, Northumbrian Water
2:20 PM																Q&A Session with previous speakers
2:30 PM																Refreshments, networking and exhibition

FUTURE-PROOFING THE WASTEWATER SECTOR
3:00 PM																From drain to gain: Tackling Fats, Oils and Greases (FOG) to build resilience for the future Working with BSI on standards EN 1825 Converting grease to biofuel for a circular economy Working closing with the food industry, building towards blockage reduction and protecting the environment Steve Williams, Network Protection Manager, Southern Water
3:20 PM																Closing keynote: Aligning plans across the UK with the environment in mind Clarifying WASCs next steps in WINEP to comply with the Environment Act Keeping up with expected increased levels of work needed in industry Delivering progress promised in DWMPs Accelerating permits and consents Encouraging industry to collaborate better with the EA and regulators to deliver for the next generation Judy Proctor, Deputy Director Water Regulation, Environment Agency
3:40 PM																Q&A SESSION WITH PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
4:00 PM																Chair’s closing remarks and end of the Wastewater Conference 2026