WiseOnWater podcast

In season 2, episode 11 of WiseOnWater, Conversations in Flow, host Natasha Wiseman dives into the concept of the circular economy within the UK water sector.  

Moving away from traditional linear models, the industry is exploring innovative ways to recover energy, valuable materials, and high-purity water from sewage and wastewater. Natasha is joined by two leading experts to discuss how cutting-edge technologies, cross-sector partnerships, and changing regulatory and social frameworks are unlocking the hidden value in wastewater. 

Guests:

Lisa Mansell, Head of Innovation and Outperformance at United Utilities, explores: 

• United Utilities' historic investment programme in the North West and how standardisation and innovation act as twin levers for outperformance 

• Insights into major Water Innovation Fund projects, including Splitting Biogas, Multiplying Value (converting sewage biogas into hydrogen and graphene) and recovering cellulose and biopolymers from wastewater 

• What a closed-loop water system looks like and how wastewater can be treated to give it a second life 

• The real challenges of water reuse - focusing on public perception, engagement, and education rather than technology gaps 

• Global perspectives - drawing on international examples from Spain (where up to 90% of wastewater is reused for agriculture) to demonstrate how reusing water for industry and irrigation frees up fresh water for public consumption 

• How green funding mechanisms are helping utilities offset initial capital burdens, and why seawater desalination and water reuse will be complementary pillars of future water security. 

This episode brings together a diverse lineup of guests representing a water company, regulator, campaign groups, and the charity sector to explore how reducing household water usage to meet regulatory targets can be achieved through a combination of cross-sector collaboration, radical innovation, behavioural science, and trusted messaging. 

Guests: 

Tim Wagstaff – Water Efficiency & Innovation Lead, Ofwat. Outlines the £100m Innovation Fund, the £25m Water Efficiency Lab, customer accountability, and commercial workplace initiatives. 

Rachel Dyson – Project Manager, Waterwise. Introduces the £3m 50 Litre Home Project (co-led with Northumbrian Water, Procter & Gamble, and global manufacturers). 

Dr Nicholas Cryer – Senior Scientist in Horticultural Water Management, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Discusses smart meter data, sensor technology, and behavioural strategies to transition UK gardens toward water neutrality. 

Sarah Castelvecchi – Consumption Lead, Anglian Water. Explores utility demand-reduction strategies, leakage eradication, and rebuilding consumer trust from the ground up. 

Jane Ballard – Weir the Agency. Explores creative campaign execution, targeted behavioural messaging, and high-impact communication strategies. 

Key discussion points 

• Public trust: Why water utilities cannot achieve ambitious reduction demand goals without restoring consumer confidence and utilising neutral, cross-sector messengers 

• Innovation: How the £100m Ofwat Innovation Fund and the Water Efficiency Lab are financing cross-sector pilots, behavioural nudges, and customer-centric campaigns 

• Efficiency: Shifting household efficiency away from personal sacrifice toward low-flow smart technology, automated appliances, and default home design. 

• Demand management: Leveraging smart meters, flow sensors, and behavioural science  

• Commercial: Tackling non-household consumption and workplace water behaviours. 

In this special highlights edition, host Natasha Wiseman looks back at some of the key discussions from Season 2, including: the call for a unified national water strategy, the opportunities of long-term regional planning, and the challenges of regaining public trust. 

Featuring takeaways on the regulatory overhaul, scaling nature-based catchments, and real-world deployments of leak-detecting AI, this episode packages the water sector's crucial strategic shifts into an essential summer listening.

Featured guests include: Marcus Rink OBE (Chief Inspector, Drinking Water Inspectorate), Karma Loveday (Editor, The UK Water Report), Matt Wheeldon (Director of Infrastructure Development, Wessex Water), Dr Jo Jolly (Director of Environment and Innovation, Ofwat), Lee Pitcher MP (Chair, APPG on Water), David Millar (Senior Innovation Fellow, Scottish Hydro Nation Chair Programme), Angela McOscar (Head of Innovation, Northumbrian Water), Siân Thomas (Director of Strategic Asset Management, Anglian Water), and Steve Plumb (Asset Strategy & Capital Delivery Director, Affinity Water). 

This episode explores practical approaches to creating cleaner, healthier environments and examines how innovation, collaboration, and effective regulation can improve water quality. 

In  'Creating a thriving environment,’ host Natasha Wiseman dives deep into one of the most critical and highly debated topics in the water sector: pollution. 

While public attention understandably centres on water company performance, clean waterways require a much broader, systems-thinking approach. This episode brings together two leading experts to examine the regulatory future of water, the often overlooked threat of highway and urban runoff, and the practical, nature-based, and digital solutions that can transform our environment. 

Guests: 

• Alastair Chisholm, Water Policy, Regulation, and Governance Lead at Arup 

Alastair has decades of experience in environmental policy, previously serving as the Director of Policy at CIWEM (Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management). He specialises in managing water as an interconnected system. 

• Jo Bradley, Rainwater Management Technical Principal at United Utilities & Director of Operations at Stormwater Shepherds 

Jo is a renowned expert in stormwater management and highway runoff. She has spent years highlighting the hidden chemical and physical pollutants washing off our road networks and advocating for robust drainage solutions. 

Key discussion points 

• Investment gap: While water companies are investing record amounts (nearly doubling budgets in the current Asset Management Period), local authorities and national highway agencies are lagging behind. 

• Legislative need: The urgent need to enact Schedule 3, which would mandate Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) on all new developments. 

• Catchment partnerships: Collaborative forums act as “safe spaces” where water companies, local authorities, environmental NGOs, and landowners can align their priorities. 

• Stewardship: In places like Philadelphia and Grangetown, communities have successfully adopted local rain gardens, taking on basic maintenance like weeding and inlet clearing, which fosters a deep sense of local pride. 

• Stormwater Utility Levy: Jo Bradley proposes introducing a dedicated stormwater levy (similar to models in Germany and the US) via council tax to generate a ring-fenced fund for community rainwater capture, street trees, and urban cooling. 

In this episode, Natasha Wiseman is joined by Lawrence Gosden, CEO of Southern Water, to discuss the monumental challenges and technological advancements defining the UK water sector.

Lawrence outlines the company's strategy for tackling the "triple threat" of storm overflows, nutrient management, and water scarcity. The conversation explores the engineering behind pioneering water recycling projects, the shift toward sustainable urban drainage, and the vital importance of rebuilding trust with customers through transparency and operational excellence. 

Top takeaways 

• The sector is shifting from static infrastructure to adaptive strategies. Southern Water is prioritising rainwater management through nature-based solutions and smart technology to mitigate the impact of intense weather events. 

• Facing unprecedented water scarcity, Southern Water is implementing advanced water reuse projects (such as those at Sandown and Havant). These projects treat wastewater to exceptionally high standards, ensuring resilience against drought while maintaining environmental health. 

• The company is utilising AI and an extensive network of sensors to monitor sewer networks in real-time, allowing for proactive intervention before pollution incidents occur. 

• Recognising the cost-of-living crisis, Southern Water has significantly expanded its support schemes, with nearly 200,000 customers currently receiving up to 45% (and sometimes up to 90%) off their bills. 

• Lawrence emphasises that the goal is the full recovery of customer trust. He advocates for a more unified regulatory approach that balances environmental progress with reasonable, affordable customer bills. 

By 2055, England alone faces a staggering 5 billion litres a day shortfall in public water supplies.

In this episode, Natasha Wiseman dives into the frontline of this environmental challenge. From the driest regions of the country to the strategic planning rooms of water utilities, we explore how the UK is preparing for a future where water can no longer be taken for granted. 

Guest 1: Daniel Johns. Managing Director, Water Resources East (WRE). Daniel is a former key figure at Anglian Water and a senior civil servant at DEFRA, as well as the former lead for the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment. Daniel discusses the evolution of WRE into a multi-sector “system planner,” balancing the needs of agriculture, energy, and the environment in the UK’s most water-stressed region. 

Guest 2: Victoria Thatcher. Head of Water Strategy and Environment, South Staffs Water and Cambridge Water, with over 12 years of experience in environmental protection and strategy, with a background in marine biology. Victoria provides the on-the-ground utility perspective, explaining how South Staffs and Cambridge Water are diversifying their sources. 

Key takeaways: 

• The ‘rainy UK’ myth: Why high rainfall doesn't equal water security, and how growth hubs like Cambridge and Milton Keynes are feeling the pinch. 

• How agriculture and industry are being integrated into water planning, including the potential for treated effluent reuse for data centres and irrigation. 

• The role of smart metering and using machine learning for dynamic catchment management. 

• The push for mandatory water efficiency labelling and why water scarcity must be baked into local planning and building regulations. 

• Why massive infrastructure projects like reservoirs take decades, and how demand management (eg, leakage reduction and behaviour change campaigns) can be an effective short-term defence. 

Sponsored by Xylem UK and Ireland. Providing innovative water technology solutions to help communities and utilities solve the world's greatest water challenges. 

In this episode of the WiseOnWater podcast, host Natasha Wiseman explores the real-world challenges and opportunities in asset management and capital delivery during a transformational period for the UK water sector.  

Dive into the complexities of strategic asset management, from the "unsexy" but vital maintenance of Victorian pipes to the rollout of massive strategic resource options like new reservoirs and desalination. This episode examines how digital innovation, smart data, and long-term planning horizons are reshaping how utilities safeguard environmental stewardship and customer service in an era of intense cost and climate pressures. 

Guest 1: Dr Sian Thomas. Director of Strategic Asset Management at Anglian Water. With a Doctorate in Business Administration, Sian’s expertise lies in team collaboration within mega-projects. She leads the team responsible for Anglian’s 25-year plans, integrating future climate projections with today’s high-stakes investment decisions. 

Guest 2: Steve Plumb. Asset Strategy and Capital Delivery Director at Affinity Water, the UK’s largest water-only company. Steve oversees a diverse team of engineers and scientists. His remit spans asset management, water quality, and environmental restoration, alongside the delivery of critical strategic resource options designed to secure water supplies for future generations. 

Key takeaways 

• The scale of AMP8: Navigating the biggest capital programme in a generation and its implications for UK water. 

• Balancing "asset health": The challenge of funding essential maintenance for ageing assets alongside high-profile new infrastructure. 

• Digital-first strategies: How Anglian Water is leveraging smart meters and AI "accelerators" to move from reactive to proactive management. 

• Future-proofing supply: Insights into the development of strategic pipelines, new reservoirs in the Fens and Lincolnshire, and the emergence of desalination in the UK. 

• Regulatory evolution: The potential impact of the Water Reform White Paper and the shift toward integrated, long-term planning horizons (5, 10, and 25 years). 

• The "Value of Water": Addressing the relationship between customer affordability, infrastructure investment, and the true cost of environmental protection. 

• Resilience defined: What it means for infrastructure to truly "stand up" to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. 

Sponsored by Xylem UK and Ireland. Providing innovative water technology solutions to help communities and utilities solve the world's greatest water challenges. 

In this episode, host Natasha Wiseman dives into the power of partnership. As the UK water sector faces increasing pressure from climate change and regulatory scrutiny, the "lone wolf" approach to water management is no longer viable. 

Explore the evolving landscape of sustainable water management, the role of green infrastructure, and community engagement in safeguarding our rivers and urban catchments. This episode highlights innovative practices, collaboration, and future visions for resilient water systems in the UK. 

Guest 1: Dr Simon De-Ville. A lecturer in Water and Environmental Engineering at the University of Liverpool. Simon's work is at the cutting edge of research into sustainable drainage systems, suds as they're known, and he works closely with industry leaders to take academic insights and turn them into best practice in the real world, helping ensure our infrastructure and resource management is fit for the future. 

Guest 2: Dr Claire Robertson. Catchment manager at Thames 21, a registered charity partnering with local communities to reconnect people with their rivers. Claire is a community organiser, researcher, and a fierce advocate for the natural world. She has built an impressive career spanning ecological research, high-impact advocacy, and stakeholder engagement and brings a wealth of experience in bridging the gap between scientific fieldwork and community action. 

Key takeaways 

• The importance of sustainable drainage systems (SUDs) for water management and flood resilience 

• How green infrastructure can be integrated into urban and catchment-scale flood mitigation 

• The role of monitoring, citizen science, and data in assessing SUDs performance 

• Collaboration between utilities, NGOs, academia, and communities for effective river stewardship 

• Challenges and barriers to scaling nature-based water solutions 

• Policy and funding need to accelerate catchment recovery efforts 

• Practical case studies demonstrating measurable benefits of SUDs in Mansfield and Hounslow 

• Future outlook: mainstreaming green infrastructure in urban planning 

Sponsored by Xylem UK and Ireland. 

In this episode of the WiseOnWater podcast, ‘Innovation in action,’ host Natasha Wiseman and guests from Ofwat, The Scotland Hydro Nation Chair programme, and Northumbrian Water and explore the massive shift in gear required to deliver truly innovative water resilience and exemplary environmental stewardship.

From the critical role of regulation to the world-first research initiatives in Scotland, our guests discuss how the water sector is moving toward an innovative culture of openness, collaboration, ground-breaking technologies and nature-based solutions. 

Guest 1: Dr Jo Jolly 

• Role: Director for Environment and Innovation, Ofwat 

• Background: With a PhD in Geophysics, Jo brings 20 years of experience in infrastructure and project delivery, including a tenure as Head of Project Futures at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. 

• Insights into the recent Government White Paper and Ofwat’s innovation fund. 

• How to move beyond compliance to an ethical framework of foresight, integrity, and care. 

• Why nature-based solutions shouldn't be considered "innovative" but rather the standard for moving and treating water. 

• How procurement and insurance systems need to innovate to allow for failure and rapid learning. 

Guest 2: David Millar 

• Role: Senior Innovation Fellow, The Scotland Hydro Nation Chair programme (University of Stirling / Scottish Water) 

• Background: With over 18 years of experience delivering multi-million-pound technology programs in the international energy sector, David now leads innovation efforts for a world-first water resource management initiative. 

  Key topics:  

• The Hydro Nation framework: How Scotland is leveraging an innovative world-first approach to manage water for maximum economic and environmental benefit. 

• A guide on integrating academic research with water company operations to move technology from lab-scale experiments to real-world utility application. 

• Insight into how collaborative intelligence overcomes silos and moves the sector toward a shared innovation model that solves systemic challenges like climate resilience and net-zero targets. 

Guest 3: Dr Angela McOscar 

• Role: Head of Innovation, Northumbrian Water 

• Key Topics: A look ahead to the 10th anniversary of the Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival (6th–9th July). 

• Working with university partners to bring robotic network maintenance from the lab to the real world. 

• The need to address regulatory roadblocks such as "Regulation 31" and lab facility constraints that currently "strangle" product innovation. 

• Why a workforce that reflects the society it serves is a fundamental driver of innovation. 

In the third episode of season 2, host Natasha Wiseman is joined by guests from EU Skills, United Unities and Xylem UK & Ireland to discuss the "monumental" workforce challenge in the water sector, including skills gaps, recruitment strategies, diversity, and the next generation of talent. 

Guest 1: Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive of Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) 

About EU Skills: A membership body of 70 companies (including all UK water utilities) representing a combined turnover of over £120 billion. They manage a register of 300,000+ safety-qualified workers. 

Key discussion points: 

• A significant portion of the frontline workforce is approaching retirement. 

• The £104 billion investment for AMP8 (Asset Management Period 8) requires new skills in procurement, contract management, cyber security, and large-scale infrastructure (e.g., reservoirs). 

• The workforce will soon span five generations, with "Gen Alpha" (born 2010+) already entering work experience.  

Guest 2: Adrienne McFarland, People Director at United Utilities 

About United Utilities: A FTSE 100 business, responsible for water and wastewater services, delivering 1.8 billion litres of water every day to more than 3 million homes and businesses in the North West 

Key discussion points: 

• Critical skills needed in the water sector include engineering, construction, and quantity surveying; environmental skills, land management, and planning, as well as digital, AI, and data analytics. 

• United Utilities has doubled its intake of graduates and apprentices. 

• Regarding ‘knowledge transfer’ UU have a focus on "Flexible Retirement" (allowing veterans to work 2-3 days a week) and maintaining an active alumni network to mentor new hires. 

• Highlighting programmes for Armed Forces veterans (who make up 5% of applicants) and ex-offenders. 

Guest 3/4/5: Perminder Atwal (HR Business Partner, Xylem), Amina Anverdeen (Sales Representative), and Ed Ellis (Graduate Chemist). 

About Xylem UK & Ireland: Xylem is a leading global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. Xylem connects diverse capabilities and innovative technologies to provide tailored solutions across the entire water cycle. 

Key discussion points: 

Perminder: 

• The water industry often lacks visibility or suffers from negative press –leading to recruitment challenges.  

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is critical. Perminder discusses the challenges of ensuring DEI in the water sector and dives into her DEI podcast Beneath the Surface - which aims to to make the "unseen seen." 

• Amina:  Challenges misconceptions that the role is purely technical; it is equally about problem-solving and commercial communication. 

• Ed: Stresses the immediate human impact of working in the water sector- for example, working on net-zero goals and public health is a primary driver for young professionals interested in working in this sector. 

Key episode takeaways: 

• The water sector faces significant skills and capacity challenges. 

• An ageing workforce is a critical issue in the water industry. 

• Diversity and inclusion are vital for building a resilient workforce. 

• Recruitment strategies must evolve to attract new talent. 

• The sector needs to move from a "crisis" narrative to an "opportunity" narrative, highlighting the 50,000+ new jobs being created. 

• Mid-career professionals should focus on their want to contribute to social value; technical skills can often be taught if the passion for the environment is present.