Leakage and Metering Conference - Day 1: Meeting Leakage Targets for AMP8
Agenda
09:00-09:30 Arrival and Registration
09:30 – 09:40 | Opening Remarks
Paul Horton, CEO, Future Water Association
An introduction to the day’s objectives: bringing together the sector to drive practical progress on leakage reduction.
09:40 – 10:25| Keynote followed by panel discussion: AMP8 and the Leakage Targets – Realistic or Reckless?
Is Ofwat’s 17% leakage reduction target by 2030 realistic—or is it setting the sector up to fail?
Who should be held accountable for delivering these targets—water companies, the supply chain, or the regulators themselves?
Do current metrics and incentives actually support long-term leakage reduction—or do they encourage short-term box-ticking?
How critical is culture, skills, and workforce development in meeting leakage targets—and are we investing in the people behind the pipes?
Keynote: James Hargrave, Anglian Water
10:25 – 11:00 | The Reality of Mains Installation and Replacement
Explore why proactive pipe maintenance, combined with accurate metering data, is essential to reaching leakage reduction targets. Topics include:
Challenges of ageing infrastructure and slow pipe replacement rates (currently less than 0.5% per annum).
How material supply chain issues, regulatory constraints, and insufficient long-term planning complicate maintenance and upgrade programmes.
Certification of mains on adoption from contractors – what is the power of this?
The health and safety point.
Additional Discussion Points:
The necessity of improving skills, recruitment, and training for leakage management to enhance workforce capabilities.
Session Reference Addition:
Reference insights from Wolseley interview on challenges regarding regulatory pressure, supply chain constraints, and need for better collaboration between suppliers and water companies to enhance efficiency and innovation.
Speakers:
Ant Hire – Leakage at point of adoption and new installations.
Jo Parker, Consultant
11:00 – 11:15 | Water Dragons Innovation Slot #1 - GWF
11:15 – 11:30 | Water Dragons Innovation Slot #2 - Highlow Water
11:30 – 11:50 | Break & Networking
11:50 – 12:20 | Standards for Success – What Needs to Change?
Exploring the current gaps or constraints in technical standards that may hinder innovation and progress on leakage.
Who regulates the standards made for advancing leakage?
Supply chain accountability.
Speaker: Andy Godly, WRc
12:20 – 12:45 | Drawing the Line: Ownership, Accountability & What Data Tells Us
Exploring the blurred boundaries in leakage responsibility, metering insights, and unaccounted-for water
12:45 – 13:15 | The People Pipeline – Skills, Recruitment & Training for Leakage Technicians
How do we attract and retain the next generation of leakage specialists? Discussion around training pathways, perception, and career development. How do we attract the right skills and right diversity into leakage and metering?
Speaker: Phil Barnaby, Director, SGB Civils
13:15 – 14:00 | Lunch & Networking
14:00 – 14:30 | Engaging the Consumer – Driving Understanding and Participation
Leakage is partly a behavioural issue. How can the public help, and how do we get them on board?
Controversial view, but my POV: We will not change customer behaviour if it requires them engaging with an app or changing the way they live. The only way we will drive down PCC in a meaningful way if our homes start doing the work for us- low-flush toilets, efficient showers, smart appliances. Real change will come if it's easy for the customer and water-saving is built in, not bolted on.
Speaker: Samantha Clough, Director, Cavendish
14:30 – 14:50 | Presentation: Campaign Intelligence: What Campaign Management Is Telling Us About Leakage
14:50 – 15:05 | Water Dragons Innovation Slot
15:05 – 15:45 | Closing Panel: What Does Success Look Like in 2030?
A future-facing conversation on what good looks like if we get leakage right—across infrastructure, skills, public trust, and innovation. Discussion around the Future Water Report Card grading for Leakage.
What does the next 5 years look like? And the 5 after that?
15:45 – 16:00 | Wrap-Up and Thanks