Smart asset planning, improved industry collaboration, quicker adoption of technologies, more onus on innovation and greater responsiveness, have all been heralded by industry experts as crucial if water companies want to meet the challenges posed by Ofwat’s PR19.

According to a new industry whitepaper - Challenges of PR19: How the Water Industry Can Respond – asset protection, improved building and maintenance of underground infrastructure, leak detection technology and a central portal for network information, all have an important role to play when it comes to a company’s PR19 strategy.

The report, designed to help water companies navigate these challenges, draws on six leading experts, all of whom share their insights on the challenges and opportunities which PR19 presents.

Curated by Richard Broome, Managing Director at LSBUD, the whitepaper includes in-depth thought-leadership from Lila Thompson, Chief Executive of British Water; Rich Matthews, MD at Siltbuster; Dr Tim Watson, Co-Founder of Probit Consulting; David Frost, Chief Executive at Ovarro; and Dr Benjamin Tam, MD at Isle UK.

Introducing the whitepaper, Richard Broome commented:

“The demands from PR19 are significant, but it does have the potential to act as a positive catalyst within the sector, driving more innovation and greater collaboration to push down costs and meet physical targets. With this in mind, we have collected expert thoughts from some of the industry’s most well respected names, covering an array of subjects, all of which I hope will help water companies respond to the targets and regulations introduced by Ofwat’s PR19.”

For those water companies particularly interested in leak reduction, Dr Tim Watson looks at how a more targeted approach to planning investment, could help companies achieve the challenging targets on leaks and bursts. David Frost then explores why the scale of leak reduction required by water companies in AMP7 is sharpening strategies, with smart technology having a vital role to play.

With innovation in mind, Dr Benjamin Tam details why pioneering and adopting new technologies is essential for success in AMP7, but calls for water companies to act now in order to meet Ofwat’s stringent targets. Lila Thompson analyses how the digital revolution will bring about radical change, but only through closer collaboration with industry partners will water companies be able to take full advantage of the options available, address key challenges and meet regulators’ expectations.

Rich Matthews takes on the subject of responsiveness, by explaining that we cannot simply build our way out of the challenges, but we need to be prepared to rethink where and how we invest our efforts, finances and risks.

Finally, Richard Broome states that greater collaboration is the key to better protecting assets, and that there is plenty the water industry can learn from the electricity and gas sectors when it comes to the safety of workers and the UK’s underground infrastructure.

Click here to download Challenges of PR19: How the Water Industry Can Respond whitepaper