Water professionals encouraged to take action for change

Water sector professionals need to use their expertise “to be the agents for change”. That was the message coming from a keynote delivered by Natalie Prosser, chief executive of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), at British Water’s 2025 Spring Reception. 

Speaking at the event, hosted at the House of Lords in London on 1 May, she said, “You are the do-ers in the industry, you are on the frontline, and understand better than most what needs to happen.  

“My message is to use that knowledge to be agents for change, for a water system that we can be proud of, that is resilient for the future, which delivers for both people and nature. Now is the time to act.” 

Prosser outlined and reiterated broader criticisms the OEP had made of the water sector for insufficient investment, generic improvement plans, a lack of certainty and pace, and clear deadlines, and inadequate governance, when it came to achieving and maintaining high water quality.  

The keynote also reflected on the Independent Water Commission, which is due to report its findings on the water sector later this year. The OEP calls for any revised targets to be ambitious, long-term, legally binding, apex targets, that specify the outcomes to be achieved on the environment. 

Prosser said “These [targets] should be pursued through specific and time-bound delivery plans accompanied by active review. The OEP emphasises the importance of clarity and coherence for how different regulations, policies and targets relate to each other.” 

Over 200 guests attended the Spring Reception, including representatives from member companies, water company leaders and other key industry figures. The event, which takes place annually, was hosted by Lord Wei of Shoreditch. 

The peer told attendees, “I know the industry has a lot to answer for, but I also know there are many doing such a great job too. The UK has some of the best drinking water in the world. My challenge to you is to have more storytelling in the industry.”  

Lord Wei said that he assumed innovation was occurring in the water sector but felt that it was not widely known. He suggested that if companies took the risk to show the public the inner workings of the sector, that they might see wider support from the public, which would make “[your] lives a lot easier.”  

Opening proceedings, Lila Thompson, chief executive of British Water, announced that Mark Fletcher, British Water chair, would be stepping down after three years in post.  

She said, “I want to take this opportunity to say what a fantastic chair Mark has been to work with. He is a very influential, inspiring leader and it has been really a privilege for me personally to work with him.” 

Fletcher said, “British Water is on a sound foundation and a real trajectory for growth and success under Lila's excellent leadership. We've continued to grow our impact, our membership, our financial stability.” 

Now in its eighteenth year, the British Water Spring Reception continues to raise the profile of the UK water industry and gives the supplier community a valuable opportunity to build the professional networks that will help address sector challenges. 

British Water’s next event is the Micropollutants Conference 2025, which takes place in Leeds on 28 May. More information can be found here. 

Taxonomy

• Water