Bohemian Rhapsody, Fish ‘n’ chips and a glass of tap.
At the Global Water Summit in London last week, I was stopped by an American utility representative who was curious about what theUK is renowned for. Our banter touched on icons like Queen and deep-fried Mars bars (both of which I highly appreciate), but hisastonishment peaked when we delved into the impressive water statistics of the UK.
Attending events with an international audience highlights the importance of celebrating our achievements and fostering collaborationto tackle challenges collectively. It’s a celebration that often goes unnoticed—whether it’s our modesty, accent, or simply lack ofvisibility. It’s for this very reason, I am excited to join my fellow water industry professionals in Toronto as the UK Pavilion to amplify ourvoices even further, united.
Some achievement that stand out to me are:
We are one of the only countries in the world to have 100% monitoring on CSOs.
The United Kingdom is among just six countries worldwide that have achieved the highest achievable score when it comes todrinking water quality.
Over the past two decades, the sector have invested in UKWIR, (UK Water Industry Research Limited), a not for profit organisationbased in London, carrying out research on behalf of the water industry and unlocking vital challenges, together.
In 2021 the sector came together to publish a joint innovation strategy, helping to achieve transparency with our challenges.
In 2022, Sping was established, the UK Water Centre for Excellence aiming to remove sector duplication, make it easier for supplychain to navigate the sector and, share knowledge, amongst other great things.
We have some of the lowest customer water bills globally, alongside significant schemes for low income households.Roughly £1.30 / $1.63
These accomplishments have earned us the honour of hosting the Global Water Congress and exhibition in Glasgow in 2026, withToronto 2024 playing a pivotal role in the lead up of this grand event. In Toronto, we will showcase our success stories, exhibit cutting-edge UK technology and supply chain expertise, and recognise the contributions of Young Professionals, Women in Water, and the bestof Scotland, among others. Being part of the UK Pavilion strategy working group fills me with immense pride, especially witnessing thesupport from companies eager to stand alongside us and amplify our message.
While we have made significant strides, there is still much ground to cover. If you have ideas to contribute towards enhancing the UKwater sector, we are all ears and open to collaboration.
Shaunna Berendsen
Chief Innovation Officer, Anglian Water