46. UK Water Industry Summit, 18 October 2023

 


As Master of the Water Conservators I was privileged to be invited by the UK Water Partnership (UKWP), together with British Water, UK Water Industry Research, the Future Water Association, the Water Industry Forum and Spring to a Water Industry Summit held at the offices of ARUP in London.  The aim of the Summit was to shape a collective response to the current challenges facing the Water Industry.

In addition to about 100 representatives squeezed into the conference area at ARUP, a further over 70 participated online (including many from the Water Conservators).  The day started with an overview of the issues from Sarah Hendry, Chair of UKWP.  Representatives followed it from England, Scotland and Wales (Nigel Watson - Northumbrian Water, Rosemary Greenhill - Scottish Government and Gail Davies-Walsh - Afonydd Cymru) addressing sector challenges and opportunities.

Gail subsequently spoke to me, as a student on her MSc studies at the University of Birmingham in 1994/5, she had been supported by the Water Conservation Trust.  She said that, without the support of the Conservators, it was very likely that she would not have undertaken the MSc, and her career path would very likely have taken her in a different direction.  She now supports an environmental NGO and leads the rivers trust movement in Wales.

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