Event: All‑Party Parliamentary Water Group (APPG Water) – Thames Water Parliamentary Session

Date: May 2024

Location: UK Parliament, Westminster (Hybrid session)

Type of CPD: Policy engagement / regulatory insight / environmental performance

Duration: 1–2 hours (plus preparation and follow‑up)

Summary of the Event

I attended the May 2024 meeting of the All‑Party Parliamentary Water Group (APPG Water), which focused on Thames Water’s operational, financial and environmental performance, alongside the wider implications for the UK water sector.

The session brought together MPs, peers, Ofwat, Defra officials, Thames Water executives, environmental NGOs, technology innovators and industry stakeholders. Discussions centred on Thames Water’s environmental record, investment needs, customer impacts, regulatory expectations and the company’s long‑term resilience.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to understand how parliamentary scrutiny of Thames Water is shaping national debates on environmental performance, transparency, affordability and the future of water‑sector governance.

Key Themes Covered

• Environmental performance and river health Pollution incidents, storm overflows, monitoring expectations and ecological outcomes.
• Financial resilience and investment needs Long‑term planning, capital investment, customer affordability and regulatory oversight.
• Transparency and public trust Data disclosure, environmental reporting and community engagement.
• Storm overflow reform Monitoring requirements, enforcement expectations and targeted interventions.
• Digital transformation and innovation The role of advanced sensing, analytics and automation in improving performance.
• Sector‑wide implications Lessons for governance, regulation and future policy direction.