Summary of the Activity

During the Covid‑19 lockdown in 2020, I served as Chair of the British Water Real-Time Monitoring (RTM) Group. This period required rapid adaptation to remote working, virtual collaboration and new operational challenges across the UK water sector.

The RTM Group became an important forum for utilities, technology providers and regulators to share intelligence on how the pandemic was affecting wastewater operations, sampling, compliance monitoring and workforce resilience. As Chair, I coordinated virtual meetings, set agendas, facilitated technical discussions and ensured continuity of knowledge exchange at a time when site access, monitoring routines and regulatory expectations were disrupted.

The group also explored how real-time monitoring technologies could support utilities during the crisis—particularly in relation to remote diagnostics, reduced site visits, early warning systems and maintaining compliance under constrained conditions.

Key Themes & Sector Issues Discussed

• Operational continuity during lockdown
  Managing reduced staffing, restricted site access and changes to sampling regimes.
• Remote monitoring and digital tools
  Increased reliance on sensors, telemetry, online analysers and remote diagnostics.
• Regulatory flexibility and communication
  Understanding how the Environment Agency and other regulators were adapting expectations during the pandemic.
• Data quality and reliability
  Ensuring robust monitoring despite operational constraints.
• Knowledge sharing across utilities
  Identifying common challenges and sharing solutions in real time.
• Future resilience
  Considering how lessons from the pandemic could strengthen long-term monitoring strategies.