Event: British Water – Annual House of Lords Reception 2024

Date: April 2024

Location: House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London

Type of CPD: Policy engagement / sector leadership / strategic networking

Duration: Evening reception (1–2 hours)

Summary of the Event

I attended the British Water House of Lords Reception 2024, an annual parliamentary gathering that brings together peers, MPs, senior utility leaders, regulators, technology innovators, environmental organisations and supply‑chain partners. The event provides a high‑level forum for discussing the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the UK water sector, particularly in the context of PR24, environmental performance, public trust and innovation adoption.

This year’s reception focused on the sector’s response to increasing scrutiny around river health, storm overflows, customer affordability and climate resilience. Parliamentary speakers emphasised the importance of transparency, investment, digital transformation and cross‑sector collaboration.

The event offered a valuable opportunity to engage directly with policymakers and senior stakeholders on the role of real‑time monitoring, biological insight and digital optimisation in delivering improved environmental outcomes.

Key Themes Covered

• Environmental performance and river health Expectations for pollution reduction, monitoring transparency and ecological improvement.
• Storm overflow reform Enforcement, data requirements, investment priorities and public accountability.
• PR24 and long‑term delivery strategies Balancing affordability, resilience, innovation and environmental commitments.
• Digital transformation and innovation The role of advanced sensing, analytics and automation in improving performance.
• Public trust and sector legitimacy The need for openness, evidence‑based reporting and community engagement.
• Collaboration across the supply chain Strengthening partnerships between utilities, innovators, regulators and policymakers.