Yannick van den Nieuwendijk, Managing Director for the Nordics, UK & Ireland, Amiblu says Ofwat must play an active role in advising about technologies that improve value-for-money and sustainability.

Yannick van den Nieuwendijk: During my career I have been fortunate enough to have worked on many water infrastructure transformation projects in other countries, and in every single one, I have seen first-hand the critical role that technology and innovation play in driving transformation.

Now it is the turn of the UK, and I am no doubt that if this country is to successfully transform its water infrastructure, new technologies, innovative materials and improved processes will play a vital role.

These will be key to unlocking value and generating a return on the colossal £104 billion which has been earmarked for investment, and on delivering a high-quality service to the public with considerably less pollution and wastage.

In my view, one of the main reasons why the UK water sector faces the problems it does, is because it has been desperately slow to embrace innovation and invest in technology.

Compared to other markets I have worked in, the technology being used is decades behind. And it shows. The public is paying more than it should for a service that should be better, and greener.

This is why now is the time for Ofwat to step up and play a much bigger role in advising water/utilities/wastewater companies on the technologies that can deliver the transformation and keep it futureproofed for generations to come.

For example, it could start by encouraging the consideration of smart water pipes and fittings, made from glass-fibre reinforced plastics, which are common in many other countries.

These products are considerably more versatile, sustainable, longer lasting, recyclable and better performing than standard pipes and fittings. Helping water companies open their eyes to these types of products would be a huge step forward.

Similarly, as a potential water infrastructure supplier looking to the UK, I think another part of the problem is that it is often difficult for manufacturers producing innovative technologies to navigate the technical standards processes within UK water companies.

Over time, this may well have unintentionally limited the pool of suppliers in the UK market and held-back the use of the best technologies. It has to change.

Ofwat should help create a clearer, simpler and more standardised technical standards. This will widen the pool of suppliers, bring in new technologies and lower prices.

On the plus side, it’s encouraging that Ofwat has already recognised the need for technology and innovation, with the creation of a £400 million innovation fund (which is part of the bigger £104 billion pot).

This innovation fund in itself is to be warmly welcomed, but it also has the dual effect of sending a powerful signal to water companies that their procurement can no longer be ‘business as usual’. It’s an opportunity for them to think outside the box and demonstrate a new approach to the value chain.

Likewise, Ofwat’s plans have highlighted the value of collaboration and knowledge sharing, and it has been clear that it will use its full range of powers to harness the potential of partnerships with other regulators, and customer bodies. Fantastic, and I’m both confident and optimistic that technology and innovation will sit at the heart of these collaborations, whatever they may be.

Ofwat has also made clear its desire to be more active in taking action against water and wastewater companies when they do not meet the required standards for consumers. Again, a positive step, and an area where technology can undoubtedly play a big role in monitoring and policing performance.

There are some who might argue that introducing new technology, materials and processes into the network is overly expensive and that the investment monies could be better spent elsewhere, but I would disagree.

The fact of the matter is that if the UK water sector does introduce innovation and new technology into the network, the longer-term resilience of the supply chain will be strengthened, and bill increases will, over time, fall. I have seen it happen many times in other markets.

And, once improvement projects do kick-off, technology and innovation will accelerate the rate of replacing ageing UK infrastructure, which given the urgency, is a big plus.

Ultimately, Ofwat has a duty to help the industry understand the many, many benefits that new technologies, materials and processes will bring to the UK’s water infrastructure. It really is the only way to deliver a transformed water network that is futureproofed for generations.