Agenda

DAY 1 – OPTIMISING WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE & NETWORKS
DAY 2 – REGULATION, RECOVERY & RESILIENCE

9:30 AM

Fireside Chat: Are we closing the gap between AMP8 promise and delivery?

Exploring NISTA's spatial planning work to overcome wastewater capacity constraints
Enabling wastewater infrastructure delivery reform through early-stage AMP9 planning with a range of key sector stakeholders

Senior Representative, NISTA

9:55 AM

PANEL DISCUSSION: Aligning planning, procurement and investment for smooth project delivery

Can AMP8 truly be delivered at the required pace?
Does investing heavily up front move the dial for customers and the environment?
How can we close the skills and resource gap across the sector?
How can we prioritise climate resilience from the planning phase, to prepare assets for increased extreme weather?
What more can be done to better balance public and media scrutiny with performance goals?

Paul Davison, Head of Wastewater Strategy, Northern Ireland Water
Richard Price, Managing Director - Wastewater Services, Pennon Group
Kathryn Waugh, Head of Strategy and Planning, Northumbrian Water

10:50 AM

Driving productivity through AMP8 and into AMP9

Exploring sector progress since the Cunliffe Review - Has AMP8 year one become "year zero"?
Closing the gap between the public narrative and actual project progress to rebuild trust

11:05 AM

Question and answer session

11:10 AM

Refreshments, networking and exhibition

11:40 AM

Exploring passive nitrate removal through WINEP

Finding passive, sustainable, and nature-based long-term alternatives to engineered plants
Partnering with farmers in priority groundwater catchments to reduce nitrate leaching through cover crops and reduced-intensity grassland
Understanding where nutrient removal and emissions reduction overlap

Claudia Hall, Catchment Specialist, Southern Water
Polly Walters, Catchment Management Specialist, Southern Water

11:55 AM

Case study: Minworth's Advanced Water Treatment Plant (AWTP)

Exploring trial rig findings from Minworth - comparing standard vs optimised treatment variants
Transferring recycled water underground in collaboration with fellow water companies

Mark Craig, Long Term Asset Strategy Lead, Severn Trent

12:10 PM

Maximising wastewater treatment innovation

Facilitating water sector transformation to enable innovators to tackle the sector's biggest challenges
Delivering industry change in alignment with the UK 2050 Water Innovation Strategy

Natalie Lamb, Sector Manager - Sector Intelligence, Spring

12:25 PM

Question and answer session

12:35 PM

Lightning Pitches: Maximising innovative technologies to future-proof wastewater assets

Hear from our best-in-class partners who will deliver a 90-second pitch, designed to help you identify the latest innovations.

Senior Representative, Stormharvester

12:45 PM

Fork buffet lunch, networking and exhibition

1:45 PM

Employing AI modelling to support amenity water access

Exploring Wessex Water’s Water Quality Live platform, providing near real-time water quality alert notifications for water users
Maximising predictive modelling tools for a whole systems thinking approach to bathing waters

Sophie Minett, Environmental Scientist, Wessex Water
Abi Williams, River Recreation Liaison, Wessex Water

2:00 PM

Exploring Section 82: Continuous monitoring in practice

One year into a five-year trial - what have we learned?
Exploring the impact of TAF groups and progress against the 2030 deadline on a local and national scale
Balancing regulatory ambition with practical, realistic delivery

2:15 PM

Turning data into action: AI and smart sensors

Using sewer level monitoring to catch pollution incidents before they escalate
Reducing report-writing time with more computer-driven analysis

Connor McBratney, Head of Product Strategy, StormHarvester

2:30 PM

Question and answer session

2:45 PM

Interactive audience session - Embracing the digital future

A fast-paced discussion format designed to spark ideas and fresh perspectives to utilise modern technologies across the wastewater sector

What's the biggest barrier to adopting digital tools in your organisation: cost, skills, legacy infrastructure, culture and which one would unlock the most progress if solved first?
As more digital tools come online across the sector, how do we make sure smaller or rural-focused utilities aren't left behind compared to larger, better-resourced organisations?

1:45 PM

Balancing the needs of people and wildlife in urban drainage design

How can we ensure that we provide meaningful habitats for wildlife while creating and maintaining green spaces to make customers happy?

Jo Bradley, Rainwater Management Technical Principal, United Utilities

2:00 PM

Mycofiltration wetlands: using fungi to treat storm discharges

Anglian Water's new mushroom-powered treatment wetland
Nature-based treatment as a green finance opportunity
What full-scale rollout could look like beyond the pilot

Matt Moore, Strategic Flood & Partnership Manager, Anglian Water

2:15 PM

Using constructed wetlands to treat agricultural wastewater

Layering constructed wetland beds with renewable materials to improve filtration and adsorption
Maximising the reduction of heavy metals from agricultural runoff

Nasrin Rastinifard, PhD Researcher, Royal Agricultural University

2:30 PM

What's next? Highlighting emerging Nature-Based Solutions

Insight from Wessex Water's ongoing nature-based solution trials to improve water quality and boost local biodiversity
Initial views on how increased investment in sustainable alternatives in PR29 can deliver better outcomes

Eoghan Kilroy, Head of Waste Water Strategy, Wessex Water

2:45 PM

Exploring Dwr Cymru's approaches to NBS

A deep-dive into Pont-y-felin - the UK's first reedbed and wetlands storm overflow
Utilising aerated reed beds to naturally filter pollutants and reduce ammonia in wastewater

Owain Coombs, Environmental Sampling Manager, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

3:00 PM

Question and answer session

3:40 PM

Rising mains: Incident-driven strategies

Sharing research into non-destructive technologies for assessing pipeline condition without taking assets out of service, to minimise customer disruption and improve asset knowledge
Utilising proactive condition assessments and dynamic risk profiling to prevent failures
Optimising predictive tools for quicker asset repair

George Cowell, Operational Intelligence Manager, Yorkshire Water

3:55 PM

Analysing the impact of Ice Pigging on Thames Water's Rising Sewer Mains

Improving flow rates, reducing bursts and spills, decreasing energy use to optimise overall asset performance
Maximising data to find efficiencies in current Ice Pigging sites while targeting for the future

Jesper Pedersen, Senior Consultant - Asset Management, AECOM
Phil Pettit, Industry Expert (Ice Pigging), SUEZ

4:10 PM

Detection dogs: Bluey and Bandit protect the UK's waterways

Insight into the UK's first in-house team of detection dogs at Wessex Water - Trained to detect wastewater odour within the surface water network, helping identify potential pollution sources
Maintaining high operational standards through CAPE specialist training, assessments and ongoing support
Operating under RSPCA reviewed Detection Dog Directive, developed by Wessex Water to place welfare at the forefront of the programme

Dr Nikki Glover, Senior Environmental Detection Dog Handler, Wessex Water

4:25 PM

Question and answer session

4:35 PM

Chair's closing remarks and close of DAY 1

4:45 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.

9:20 AM

KEYNOTE: Is 'super-regulation' the answer?

Exploring what the future regulatory landscape might look like
Weighing the benefits of a single "super-regulator" against the risk of lost momentum during transition
Prioritising sector needs against investment and public perceptions

Dan Walker-Nolan, Policy Director, Water UK

9:35 AM

Overcoming limits to innovation

With water sitting at the heart of many of society's most pressing issues - from climate resilience and biodiversity - to housing, energy and economic growth - this session considers whether our vision for water utilities is simply too narrowly defined.
Talking points include:

Is the water sector facing a somewhat less obvious challenge beyond assets, funding, and PR - a crisis of imagination?
How could water companies evolve beyond their traditional role as service providers to become more prominent stewards of place, conveners of partnerships and enablers of wider social, environmental and economic value?
Exploring what a truly future-fit water utility might look like, and what it will take to get there

Oli Raud, Associate Director, Isle Utilities

9:50 AM

Question and answer session

10:00 AM

PANEL DISCUSSION: Planning future wastewater regulation amid an uncertain landscape

How has the sector changed, 18-months on from The Cunliffe Review?
What can we expect from the Clean Water Bill?
How can we better align government organisations with teams running day-to-day operations?
Are permit processes slowing down delivery?
Is the sector prepared for the scale of PR29 and AMP9 and increased climate resilience demands?

Judy Proctor, Deputy Director – Water Regulation, Environment Agency
Senior Representative, Ofwat

11:00 AM

Refreshments, networking and exhibition

11:30 AM

Utilising reactivated carbon for effective and efficient wastewater treatment

Keeping costs and environmental protection front of mind during treatment

Nick Garrett, Industry Expert, Puragen

11:45 AM

Overcoming land-use risks for biosolids

Managing the shift to direct ownership with the end of PFI contracts
Navigating land restrictions, phosphorus limits and shared sludge management with England
Is farmland a realistic long-term sludge outlet?

Nathan Wield, Head of Bioresource Options, Scottish Water

12:00 PM

The latest outcomes from the Net Zero Hub

Lowering carbon footprints by recovering cellulose from toilet paper for reuse
Reducing microplastics in wastewater

Pete Vale, Carbon & Circular Economy Architect, Severn Trent

12:15 PM

Enhancing Treatment Works sludge reduction

Using bacteria for biological P removal and sludge reduction
Exploring alternative techniques to anaerobic digestion

Tara McKernan, Innovation and Efficiency Wastewater Engineer, Northern Ireland Water

12:30 PM

Question and answer session

11:30 AM

Delivering better outcomes through integrated working

Insight into Yorkshire Water's new approach to Storm Overflow delivery to reduce overflow discharges
Integrating the Storm Overflow Alliance to build nature-based solutions, underground storage tanks, and surface water sewers
Accelerating programmes to deliver on customer expectations more quickly

Jon Stokes, Head of Alliance, Yorkshire Water

11:45 AM

Strengthening wastewater reporting and environmental evidence

Identifying root causes of wastewater incidents through scientific investigation and analysis
Assessing environmental and community impacts to inform spill response strategies
Adhering to the Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA)

Peter Morgan, Environment Lead - West Sussex, Southern Water

12:00 PM

Adapting to consumer needs - Is the bathing season now year-round?

Should blue flag standards extend beyond May - September?
Understanding why water quality has improved but public perception hasn't caught up

Helen Dobby, Head of Environmental Performance, South West Water

12:15 PM

Overcoming wastewater pressures through CSO innovation

Retrofitting storm tanks, valves and pumps in preparation for peak storm volumes
Optimising UK water storage in preparation for increased periods of drought due to climate change

12:30 PM

Question and answer session

2:15 PM

Exploring the ecological risks of chemical mixtures in rivers

Developing a novel assessment framework for assessing the real impacts of chemical pollution in UK rivers
Insight into the Pollution Dashboard created through the National Environment Research Council's ECOMIX project

Alistair Boxall, Professor in Environmental Science, University of York

2:30 PM

Effective quorum quenching and biofilm suppression in wastewater treatment systems

Preventing bacteria biofilm development for easier treatment processes
Extending the life of filters and treatment work operations while saving energy
Protecting essential waste-degrading bacteria

Mehvish Manzoor, PhD Student, Tianjin University

2:45 PM

CIP4 update: source control and removal of trace substances

Latest findings from the chemical investigation programme
Scaling emerging solutions with academic input

Senior Representative, UKWIR

3:00 PM

Question and answer session

3:10 PM

Closing Keynote: What does success look like for the UK Wastewater sector by 2035?

3:30 PM

Chair's closing remarks and end of the Wastewater Conference 2027

James Wallin, Editor in Chief, Utility Week