**London**: Yännick van den Nieuwendijk from Amiblu highlights a path forward for the UK’s water sector, advocating for innovation and improved accountability to address public concerns and restore trust. He underscores the importance of collaboration and investment to realise transformative changes in the industry.
Despite ongoing challenges within the United Kingdom’s water infrastructure, Yännick van den Nieuwendijk, Managing Director for Nordics, UK & Ireland at Amiblu, expresses optimism regarding potential transformational changes in the sector over the forthcoming years. In a recent article published in Water Magazine, he outlines critical steps that he believes the water regulator, Ofwat, should consider to help restore public trust.
In recent years, consumers have been exposed to various negative reports regarding the state of water services. Issues such as sewage spillages, pipe leakages, unsatisfactory environmental performance, substantial CEO bonuses, and a general feeling of not receiving value for money have raised concerns across the public domain. Van den Nieuwendijk acknowledges these issues but also suggests that the operational efficiency of the UK’s water infrastructure market leaves much to be desired.
He notes a perceived lack of openness to innovative solutions and advanced technology within the sector, which he attributes to possibly deeper structural problems, including insufficient local competition. According to van den Nieuwendijk, some firms have not been adequately pressured to enhance their supply chain efficiency or to keep consumer bills lower. Additionally, larger suppliers often dominate procurement processes, which can exclude more innovative companies from the mix, even when they exceed established standards.
This situation has led to a degree of restrictive practice in the industry, which in turn has hindered the introduction of transformative technologies that could enhance service delivery. He stresses the need for the government to reassess this scenario with the goal of creating a more level playing field, referencing similar successful adjustments made in the energy and telecommunications sectors.
Van den Nieuwendijk welcomes the commitment from water companies to invest £104 billion in infrastructure improvements from 2025 to 2030, almost doubling previous investment levels. He acknowledges that while this ambitious undertaking will pose significant challenges, particularly due to the UK’s unpredictable weather patterns, it provides a substantial opportunity for collaboration among government, regulators, water companies, and suppliers. Such collaboration could foster the dynamism and innovation necessary for the sector to thrive and the investments to yield meaningful results.
With the water industry currently facing heightened scrutiny from both government and the public—exemplified by the recent implementation of 100% monitoring of storm overflow spills—van den Nieuwendijk emphasises the necessity for water companies to enhance their accountability and transparency. He raises the question of how the industry can effectively turn itself around, positioning Ofwat as a pivotal entity in this transformation.
A major avenue for improvement would involve embracing technological advancements. Van den Nieuwendijk highlights the potential benefits already experienced in various other markets through the adoption of new technologies, which can enhance water treatment processes, strengthen infrastructure, and facilitate the progression towards net zero emissions.
To realise these enhancements, he asserts that collaboration is essential among Ofwat, water companies, and the supply chain. Suppliers will need to clearly articulate how their products and services can improve quality, environmental outcomes, competitiveness on price, and overall value throughout their lifecycle. Water companies, in turn, must become more receptive to innovation and expand their selection of suppliers. Ofwat has a critical role in fostering an environment conducive to innovation while also challenging the status quo.
He proposes that the regulator consider standardising technical standards across different water companies, as these currently exhibit significant variability. By shifting mindsets and invoking a culture of openness to new approaches, van den Nieuwendijk expresses optimism about the prospects for the UK’s water sector. He believes that this could offer an unparalleled opportunity for increasing supplier diversity, promoting technological uptake, and establishing more consistent technical standards. If these opportunities are seized effectively, the sector could repair itself, secure its future viability, and regain public trust.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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