May 2022
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This conference focused on the way forward for water management.
It took place against the backdrop of changing consumer demands, the Government’s net-zero objectives, and the drive to address biodiversity loss and reduce pollution and contamination.
The conference was a timely opportunity to consider key developments in regulation and policy, including PR24, WINEP, DWMPs, ELMs, the Environment Act, and the National Infrastructure Assessment.
Sessions in the agenda included:
- Priorities for regulation and policy
- Delivering sustainable water management for the long term
- Addressing surface water flooding
- Building a resilient water sector
- Long term market design
- Progress on the National Framework for Water Resources
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- environmental priorities - reducing pollution and contamination - improving wastewater treatment - water storage and drainage challenges
- regulation - PR19 progress - Environmental Land Management Scheme implementation - developing resilience and adaptability across the sector in response to changing markets
- collaboration - opportunities and strategies for joint working in the water sector - improving engagement with wider stakeholders, communities and households
- infrastructure development - tackling priorities identified by the baseline report ahead of the next National Infrastructure Assessment
We were pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with Jonson Cox, Chairman, Ofwat; Anne Dacey, Deputy Director of Water Resources, Environment Agency; and James Heath, Chief Executive, National Infrastructure Commission - as well as contributions from Sarah Bentley, Chief Executive Officer, Thames Water; Tom Bradshaw, Deputy President, NFU; Alan Law, Deputy Chief Executive, Natural England; Rob Lawson, Director, Artesia Consulting Ltd; and Chair, CIWEM Water Resource Panel; Heidi Mottram, Chief Executive Officer, Northumbrian Water; and Dr James Robinson, Director of Conservation, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from Defra; BEIS; Ofwat; the CCC; The Planning Inspectorate; the Environment Agency; the Forestry Commission; DAERA, NI; the Department for Communities, NI; the DfE; the DIT; the DfT; the DWI; the House of Commons Library; the NAO; NIEA; Ofgem and the Welsh Government - as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords.