Progress over perfection - tackling pollution in the UK water industry

With the position of the public and industry clear, the question that we as a sector now need to ask ourselves is: how can we do better? How can we move forward quickly and sustainably that doesn’t risk unintended consequences?

Our desired outcome is to have a clean, safe water environment for the benefit of nature and public amenity. This will be a long-term journey that cannot be solved by one party in isolation and needs the combined collaboration and innovation of all interested parties. The reality is that there is no ready-made solution to the problem, and a toolkit of innovative asset management decision-making processes allied with both nature-based and traditional engineering designs and contracts will maximise the benefit and value at each stage.

Flexibility is required that acknowledges and reflects the regional differences across the country, and this can be underpinned by four key themes: transparency, collaboration, engagement, and implementation.

The publishing of real-time CSO spill data is a huge step forward in shining a light on the scale of the challenge faced. Continuing on this path of transparency is essential in allowing an honest debate. More data paints a richer picture from which to analyse the problems, comparing the experience of different companies and sharing learnings more broadly across the sector. The future opportunities for use of big data and AI tools will only enhance the decision-making process.

Collaboration among diverse stakeholders, like regulators, experts, and community representatives enriches policy development. It brings varied perspectives, expertise, and experiences to the table, encouraging inclusive decisions that address complex challenges effectively. This collective effort enhances policy relevance, feasibility, and acceptance, leading to better outcomes for all involved.

Finding a way to meaningfully engage with the public and other stakeholders that breaks down the barriers and invites a wide range of feedback into the discussion builds a stronger collaborative culture. People respond to honest dialogue where they feel they are being heard and can see intent to change.

Finally, it is essential to work quickly, implement trial solutions, and learn in practice what works and what doesn’t, building a portfolio of options that can be used in different scenarios. Taking a progress over perfection mindset that implements solutions, measures their benefit, and is agile enough to adapt to the results achieved.

We need to change the narrative from this being a water company problem to a societal one, with a part to be played by urban planners, developers, industry, and agriculture as well as environmental groups and regulators. The reality is that there is not one solution and only by collaborating can we have the right framework and tools to solve our biggest challenges.