Explore the 2026 Agenda

• Rapid advancements in AI are colliding with climate pressures, inflation and regulatory shifts, opening new pathways for volatility management and innovation. What integrated approaches to resource planning and operational decision-making are emerging as a result?
• How are governance and operational structures evolving to support the rapid adoption of emerging technologies, and what barriers must be overcome to enable meaningful transformation?
• With traditional business models built around long-term, low-risk capital cycles, what financing mechanisms are emerging to support faster, more flexible investment in digital capabilities? How can utilities balance stability with the need for agility?
• What do water customers expect for their money, and how can technology help utilities meet evolving customer demands around service reliability, transparency, and efficiency to justify investment and build trust?

• What role do policymakers play in shaping a regulatory environment that enables digital transformation across the water supply chain? How can this support compliance to stricter environmental standards and promote progress toward energy neutrality?
• How can regulators balance the deployment of emerging technologies with effective risk management? What are the key differences in regulatory approaches across the global regions?
• What governance models are regulators adopting to support Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in a digitally evolving landscape?
• What lessons can be drawn from global regulatory initiatives, such as Ofwat’s Innovation Fund or the US EPA’s AQUARIUS program, in unlocking investment, de-risking innovation, and incentivising digital transformation?

• As the sector shifts from network expansion to asset renewal, how can utilities and engineering companies improve the accuracy of condition data and boost delivery productivity to ensure investments deliver maximum ROI?
• How are water utilities rising to the challenge of delivering major capital programmes while managing delivery risk and maintaining cost realism? What should we expect from the UK’s AMP8 cycle, which brings unprecedented investment levels and pressure to modernise infrastructure?
• What does the technology stack need to include to effectively map assets, monitor performance and track key efficiency outcomes across potable and wastewater networks? How can utilities ensure interoperability across legacy systems and new platforms to overcome data fragmentation and enable a unified view of asset performance?

Explore how utilities are translating asset management theory into practice to extend asset life, optimise performance, and reduce operational risk. This session highlights practical insights from real-world implementations - covering digital tools, data strategies, and cross-functional collaboration.

• How are advanced technologies helping utilities reduce pressure on ageing infrastructure amid more frequent extreme weather events? What strategies can accelerate the deployment of these solutions?
• How can smart systems and improved integration between operational and information technology transform legacy infrastructure and storm overflows? What role does real-time monitoring play in improving responsiveness and enabling smarter water management?
• How can technologies such as SCADA, digital twins, IoT, sensors ML and AI converge to anticipate network stresses, and decrease non-revenue water (NRW)? What potential does AI-backed modelling and early warning systems play in enabling proactive flood control measures?

A dynamic session featuring two short presentations on cutting-edge collaborations and how international partnerships are unlocking smarter, faster and more resilient infrastructure solutions. 

• As freshwater quality declines and demand rises, how is the sector advancing reuse strategies to meet tightening pollutant regulations, and ensure a safe, sustainable supply? What can we learn from the countries and regions leading the way?
• How are utilities navigating the energy, chemical, and infrastructure demands of reuse? What innovations are helping reduce resource intensity, and how can decentralised wastewater treatment systems support zero-liquid discharge goals to tackle scarcity?
• With treatment costs exceeding those of freshwater abstraction, what technologies or business models are improving the economics of reuse?

This session features rapid-fire presentations on cutting-edge, evidence-based approaches to water recovery, showcasing the potential of decentralised and internal recycling systems, municipality or industry-led initiatives, and circular supply chain redesigns to become scalable solutions for a water-scarce future.

NEW! Join us for a dynamic showcase of breakthrough innovation in the water sector, featuring early-stage and growth-stage companies from across the UK and Europe. This session is designed to spotlight the most exciting technologies and business models shaping the future of water. A panel of experts will assess the potential for deployment and partnership, offering a perspective to scalability and impact.

• In a world facing rapid technological change, rising water demand, and mounting economic pressures, what does the current investment landscape look like for water-tech from early-stage discovery to commercialisation? Which innovations are gaining traction and scaling globally?  
• Join a leading expert to unpack the state of the water-tech industry, spotlighting high-potential technologies, examine  deployment signals, and explore directions for future innovation across countries and regions.

• Private equity firms and strategic investors are actively building and acquiring companies in the water sector – so what makes a water- tech company valuable to buyers, and what does sustainable start-up growth look like?
• What signals and metrics help investors separate value from hype in water-tech? From proven performance and customer traction to financial discipline, how can start-ups demonstrate credibility to attract serious investment and plan for successful exits?
• What alternative capital pathways, such as blended finance, are needed to support sustainable long-term growth and credible exit opportunities?

Let’s raise a glass to a great first day, and to 15 years of innovation, collaboration, and impact in water technology! You’re invited to join us in the exhibition area for networking drinks and the chance to unwind and continue the day’s conversations in a relaxed setting.