Water & Wastewater Treatment

EVENTS 11 February 2014 Water & Wastewater Treatment wwtonline.co.uk T he changes taking place in the water sector today are making their way to the main stage at SustainabilityLive in a big way, with sessions on retail competition, innovation and technology and fracking. The main feature though will reflect on an issue that has been around for a long time. It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since the privatisation of the water utilities in England and Wales. Some £100Bn of investment later, opinion is still divided on this most controversial of issues and perhaps it is returning to the mainstream as the call for renationalisation of the energy utilities re-emerges. Privatised along with companies like British Gas, BT, BAA and National Power during the Thatcher years, the water utilities have seen massive improvements in tangibles like the quality of drinking water, river water and bathing water – necessary to meet the European directives that have also coloured the same period. Service failings too have reduced in number and scale. The investment picture has shifted significantly since 1989 though, with just three of the original ten 'Water PLCs' remaining listed on the London Stock Exchange. Of the 29 Statutory Water Companies in 1989, just 12 remain after a series of mergers and acquisitions – and just two in domestic hands. Further, the sector is still beset with ageing infrastructure and new challenges in terms of climate change, population growth and the new age of economic restraint. Ofwat chairman Jonson Cox will join his predecessor, Sir Ian Byatt, water regulator at the time of privatisation in 1989, to explore how the industry has changed. They will be joined by Wessex Water's executive chairman, Colin Skellett, and Lord Moynihan, former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for water privatisation. Day 2 – 14.30 The water industry: 25 years since privatisation There are some big issues swilling around the UK's water sector and the Keynote Stage at IWEX and SustainabilityLive is one place to hear the latest from those in the know, says Natasha Wiseman Listen-in to the big voices in water Day 1 – 12.30 Retail competition Getting in shape for a new market What's to worry about? Retail competition is still over three years away. Plenty, say the main players, several of whom will join a panel discussion on the topic on the Keynote Stage at IWEX 2014. One of the speakers is Mark Powles, chief executive officer, Business Stream. Powles who helped build one of the world's first separated retail businesses for the Scottish market from 2007. "For incumbents, it might feel like it's three-and-a-half years away, but start now. Start thinking about data, start cleaning data," he says. Of course the 'testing ground' of Scotland with its single public utility presents a very different environment to England where multiple private utility companies co-exist, each with its own legacy data systems. How this information will be opened up to the wider market is still to be addressed. Andrew Beaver, director of strategy at Ofwat will also join the panel and will perhaps have to field some of the most pressing questions. How is Ofwat ensuring a transparent and open market in the new competitive environment? And will the systems and safeguards be ready on time? With Thames Water's commercial director, Piers Clark, and Rob Wesley, head of policy, Water UK, rounding of the panel, a lively debate can be expected. Day 3 – 12.30 Innovation Delivering technology in Amp6 The emphasis on innovation in Amp6 is already changing the way utilities work with their consultants, contractors, technology providers and the wider supply chain. The new shape of alliances and partnerships in the water industry will determine how more strategic investment, greater efficiencies and slicker operations are leveraged. To discuss the changing shape of delivery models, Keith Wishart, head of technology and innovation at Thames Water's new Eight2O alliance, will join Steve Kaye, head of innovation at Anglian Water, and Malcolm Horne, asset creation general manager at Severn Trent Water. Day 2 - 11.45 Water industry technology pitch Site silt inspiration from Singapore In Singapore, the Public Utilities Board carried out a study which found that over 80% of silty water flowing into the drainage system was generated from construction sites. For this reason, legislation was introduced to ensure that all construction sites contain all the rainwater run-off within the site boundaries and carry out a treatment process to remove any silt content to below 50mg/l. Although discharge of silty water from construction sites in the UK is an offence which can carry a heavy fine or even imprisonment, the guidelines do not state a specific permissible silt content limit. Scott Vickers is now bringing its site management system and technology developed for the Singapore market into the UK believing it could work here too. Scott Vickers sales manager (Singapore), Raymond Hoon, will be pitching the system in a special technology innovation session on the Keynote Stage at IWEX 2014. He faces competition from Fibrelite, TT Pumps and Thames Water Commercial in a session moderated by Anglian Water's head of innovation, Steve Kaye. For silty sites – Scott Vickers' treatment system from Singapore Looking back - Ofwat chairman Jonson Cox joins a high level panel to reflect on privatisation

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