Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/670657
Bristol turns smart "We need 440GWh of electricity annually. That's more than every household in Aberdeen." "It's a constant balancing act to ensure there is enough water for people, business, agriculture and the environment" "We want to see evidence that companies are ge ng to grips with the root causes of complaints." "We need to iden fy the barriers to ge ng a be er deal for customers and making sure all customers' interests are considered." A panel discussion in U lity Week Live's Keynote conference on May 17 will explore the role of u li es in smart ci es, and driving innova on across and beyond the sector. It will focus on the 'Bristol is Open' project, a joint venture between the University of Bristol and Bristol City Council to deliver research and development ini a ves that contribute to the development of a smart city and the 'Internet of Things'. The Bristol Is Open project is funded by the local, na onal and European governments, with academic research funding, Taking customers to heart The last price review saw regulator Ofwat put pressure on the water companies to engage with their customers, and customer-centric outcomes were included in business plans to bring the customer to the heart of opera ons. Against this backdrop, the Water Theatre at U lity Week Live on May 17 will host a thought-provoking session on what the future holds for and by the private sector. Small sensors, including the smart phones and GPS devices of willing par cipants, supply three fast networks in the centre of Bristol with informa on about many aspects of city life, including energy, air quality and traffi c fl ows. A city opera ng system hosts this machine-to-machine communica on, allowing the development of a wide range of applica ons. Among the panellists in the discussion session will be Bristol Water chief execu ve Luis Garcia Berenguer. customer trust and confi dence, and how companies can embed new thinking and processes. Ofwat delivery director Georgina Mills will be revealing how the regulatory process can help to put customers fi rst, while Tony Smith, chief execu ve of the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), will be on hand to give insight into what customers want from their water supplier. Book your free §ckets today www.u§lityweeklive.co.uk Chris Toop, Sco sh Water Tony Smith, chief execu ve, CCWater Jacob Tompkins, managing director Waterwise Cathryn Ross, chief execu ve, Ofwat In quotes