Embracing the power of technology is vital to deliver the transformative change needed by our struggling water industry, says Yännick van den Nieuwendijk, Managing Director, Amiblu, UK and Ireland, in this personal viewpoint.
Water companies are set to invest £96 billion in water and sewage infrastructure between 2025 and 2030 in a near doubling of current levels.
Environment Agency data on storm overflow spills and pipe leakages, as well as the understandable reaction of the public to this, is evidence that this investment is desperately needed. This statement of intent however is only one part of the puzzle, it is the ability to deliver at scale, which will be a substantial undertaking.
The challenge facing water companies is amidst a backdrop of distrust and a crackdown on underperformance including targeting CEO bonuses. The upcoming General Election is likely to heighten such scrutiny.
Companies therefore cannot afford to adopt a business-as-usual approach. Instead, this is where new technology can be a game changer. The benefits of technological advancements are clear: improved water treatment, robust infrastructure and aiding the transition to net zero.
To unlock the power of technology requires water companies and the supply chain to both play their part. Suppliers must showcase how their products and services are of high quality, will deliver better environmental outcomes, and be competitive on price. In a nutshell, suppliers that succeed will be those that demonstrate value across the lifecycle assessment.
Water companies for their role will have to embrace innovation and new technologies and widen the playing field. Water companies’ procurement practices can too often find themselves being conservative in their approach, even when introduced to new innovative solutions.
To meet the scale of transforming the UK’s infrastructure will only be achieved if we ensure all parties are being ambitious enough. In this respect, Ofwat has a key role to create a landscape that encourages innovation and tackle the “way things have always been done” mentality.
There is no hiding place or alternative for the industry, there must be a significant improvement in the water companies’ performances.
Storm overflow spills are now 100% monitored across the water network, which will improve transparency and increase accountability.
The latest Environment Agency data shows a 54% increase in the number of sewage spills in 2023 compared to the previous year providing an unwanted benchmark. Increasingly unpredictable weather patterns of course have an impact, but significantly it highlights the pressing need for infrastructure upgrades.
A good starting point would be a review of the technical standards, which can vary greatly from company to company and in some cases have not been updated for decades.
The supply chain invests tens of millions to adhere to standards to find discrepancies across the board. This is necessary to ensure a level playing field.
New technologies can then be decided on its merits, providing a platform in which the water sector can futureproof itself for decades to come.
