TO BE PUBLISHED May 2026
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This conference will assess latest developments, policy priorities and next steps for tackling water pollution in England and Wales.
It will bring together stakeholders, and government and regulatory policymakers, following the recent publication of the Water White Paper which outlines the Government’s vision for the water sector, including proposals for a new single water regulator for England. It will also be an opportunity to discuss implications of the Government’s recently published Environmental Improvement Plan, which sets out revised environmental targets and objectives for the next five years, including strategies for promoting clean water for consumers and nature.
The conference takes place with joint working between the UK and Welsh governments in areas such as the forthcoming water Transition Plan and cross-border issues, with discussion in the agenda focusing on some aspects that are England-specific.
The agenda will look ahead to the Transition Plan, which will establish a roadmap for shifting to a new model for the water sector. The plan will also lay the foundations for the Water Reform Bill, which is expected to include measures to introduce a single regulator, end operator self-monitoring, and strengthen the framework for river basin planning and water quality objectives under the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations.
Water sector regulation
Discussion will examine ways forward for the management and regulation of water bodies to support improvement of water quality and address issues for sewage wastewater management. We expect delegates to consider implications of the white paper, with reports from the NAO and OEP raising concerns around the effectiveness, consistency and enforceability of current environmental regulation.
Recent and forthcoming regulatory reform will be discussed, including new powers under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, and what will be needed from enhanced regulatory monitoring and penalty regimes to incentivise sustained improvement and investment. Attendees will consider concerns from some stakeholders that the proposed Performance Improvement Regime may weaken accountability for polluters with poor environmental or financial performance. They will also look at options for safeguards to underpin the robust application of financial penalties.
Delegates will assess proposals for enhanced economic and environmental regulation, including expectations for a new single regulator and strengthened arrangements for consumer redress, including a Water Ombudsman for England. With some stakeholders calling for accelerated reform, including changes to the role of Ofwat, immediate priorities will be assessed for the forthcoming Transition Plan to support practical implementation, including sequencing, governance and capacity. Delegates will also discuss what will be needed from longer-term reform for planning and legislative frameworks - including Strategic Policy Statements and the Water Framework Directive - for clarity and coordination to support delivery.
Infrastructure & flooding
Sessions will examine pathways for monitoring and upgrading water infrastructure, drawing on reports from the Independent Water Commission and NAO, alongside the white paper, with an emphasis on pre-pipe solutions and prevention.
Areas for discussion include the role of data and digital systems in tackling sewage leaks, storm overflows and other sources of pollution - in the context of targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan. Attendees will also consider new guidance for Sustainable Drainage Systems, including integration into new and existing developments, and the role of nature-based solutions in managing runoff.
Further discussion is expected on the role of Environmental Delivery Plans under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 in addressing nutrient neutrality and development-related runoff through strategic catchment measures.
Funding
Strategic approaches to funding and investment will be discussed, with reference to concerns raised by the NAO around infrastructure performance and delivery, considering Ofwat’s PR24, the Water Industry National Environment Programme, and implications for investment planning. Reinvestment of funds raised from fines and penalties will also be discussed, including the potential role of extended producer responsibility, and the balance between investment requirements and customer affordability.
Agriculture, emerging contaminants & nature-based solutions
Further sessions will consider priorities for agricultural and land management in reducing water pollution, including coordination between the water sector, regulators, government authorities and land managers, and approaches to addressing nutrient loading, persistent organic pollutants, chemicals and microplastics.
Drawing on recent legal cases relating to agricultural responsibility, and the ongoing consultation on sewage sludge spreading, delegates will assess how regulation of waste treatment and agricultural practices can be improved to address health and environmental risks not fully captured by existing regulatory frameworks. Progress towards national and international targets will also be assessed, including implications of the UK Pesticides National Working Plan and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Discussion will examine strategies for addressing barriers to tackling emerging contaminants including PFAS, microplastics and novel pollutants, alongside governance, funding and capacity considerations for maximising the benefits of wetlands, river restoration and natural flood management, and their contribution to biodiversity and resilience targets.
Strategy, stakeholder roles, coordination & delivery
With the Environmental Improvement Plan and the white paper's emphasis on planning reform for the water environment, the agenda will consider practicalities for addressing concerns over fragmented and complex planning processes, such as those presented by the Planning and Infrastructure Act and the introduction of Environmental Delivery Plans. Areas for discussion include targets and criteria for environmental improvement, approaches to engagement and coordination between stakeholders, and options for supporting timely delivery.
National and regional responsibilities will be examined, including delivery of strategies at different scales, the role of forthcoming Regional Water Authorities in England, and lessons from existing partnerships. We expect a focus on River Basin Management Plans and principles arising from the Upper Costa Beck legal challenge, including implications for structuring management plans and priorities for partnership-based planning and investment.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
