Leading industry trade association British Water has been asked by water regulator Ofwat and HM Treasury to hold another conference on the AMP5 investment cycle in November this year.
The request follows the highly successfully Amp Cycle Rollercoaster Conference held in February by British Water and Water UK, the body which represents all the UK water companies, which addressed a number of key concerns about the lumpy nature of investment in the sector and its adverse impact on the supply chain. The event marked the first time that the bodies representing both the supply chain and their customers had collaborated formally to explore solutions to the issue.
The Government has publicly acknowledged the problem - in July the Treasury published a White Paper - Smoothing investment cycles in the water sector- which stated:
“Cyclical investment in the water sector has been evident since privatisation. Its effects have led to a stop-start cycle within the water sector supply chain with schemes typically being delivered within the middle three years of a five year cycle. The start and end of the cycle can lead to lean periods of great uncertainty, loss of productivity across the five year cycle, redundancies and an environment of uncertainty in which small and medium enterprises are particularly badly affected. “
The Treasury White Paper specifically looked at the results of a 2012 survey carried out by IMS Consulting for British Water which explored water industry attitudes to the current regulatory process. According to the White Paper, the results indicate the significant challenges to the supply chain of sustaining their participation in this sector.
British Water is now in the planning stages for the upcoming conference, which will take place on Thursday 15th November at the Emirates Stadium, North London.
For further information contact Jeremy Bayfield, Commercial Manager at British Water on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 0207 957 4608.
UK water companies are invited to join an upcoming webinar which will explore how the sector can take indirect potable reuse (IPR) from concept to full-scale operational reality.
James Sumsion, CEO of predictive water intelligence specialists Kohtari, says the water sector needs to take a giant leap forward, so that it can anticipate and act upon water quality issues - rather than merely react.
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.