Arqiva CEO, Shuja Khan, opens the Waterwise Conference 2024
It is fantastic to be here again for the Waterwise conference.
And it has been another great year for the UK's leading independent voice for using water wisely.
I want to congratulate Tania [Flasck, Chair], Nicci [Russell, CEO] and the whole team for all you've achieved over the last 12 months.
You've worked with your colleagues down under at The Water Conservancy in Australia to bring their annual Water Night to the UK for the very first time, helping promote water awareness.
Your Water Saving Week and Dry July campaigns reached millions of people, highlighting the small changes we can make to help save water.
And you have once again brought us all together this week to reflect on the challenges the sector faces and the opportunity we all have to help overcome them.
The theme of this year's conference is about the future.
Living with less: planning for a water-scarce future.'
We all know what lies ahead if we don't act.
The population is growing so demand is going up.
And the effects of climate change mean supply is becoming scarcer and more sporadic.
It's not just the fact that there are more of us.
The trend of the last few decades has been that we are all using more and more water.
In fact, personal household water consumption has increased by 60% since the 1960s.
Back then, many homes still had a single outdoor lavatory and a tin bath.
We can argue whether washing machines, dishwashers and showers are luxuries or necessities. The fact is, they are here to stay.
So, it is not surprising that, as a country, we use twice as much water than back in the 60s.
Every day, over 3 billion litres of clean, treated drinking water is lost through leaks before it ever has the chance to come out of a tap.
Another statistic: today, 17% of our household energy consumption is from hot water.
Between 5 and 6% of the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions come from water use.
90% of that is from use in homes and businesses.
And still, for me, the killer stat.
The one that defines the scale of the challenge we face but also shows the huge potential we have to improve:
Every day, over 3 billion litres of clean, treated drinking water is lost through leaks before it ever has the chance to come out of a tap.
To give a sense of scale, that equates to more water being lost than the countries of Ireland and Iceland use in total between them.
So, to sum up demand is increasing, supply is finite, clean water is energy intensive and every day we are wasting billions of litres of it.
It's a big problem today and it's not getting any easier. How do we tackle it?
I want to set out three principles that I think are key to doing this.
I call them the three Cs: Collaboration, Consistency and Commitment.
First, it is about working together to ensure the best outcomes collaboration.
The domestic water sector is really unusual a market of independent sole providers each with its own patch.
That means that the key players are not in direct competition so collaboration should be easier.
In some cases, this is happening, for example when the industry published its Net Zero 2030 Roadmap and its Leakage Roadmap to 2050, and there are positive industry initiatives such as Stream, the open data platform. And, of course, Waterwise has also been playing its part with its excellent Water Efficiency Strategy to 2030 report produced with input from over 100 organisations.
However, given the size and scale of the problem we are facing with water scarcity, the question is are we doing enough to solve the problem together?
By sharing experiences and data, pooling resources, forging alliances within and across the sector, bringing in best practice from outside the industry and pushing each other to drive-up standards.
Data is the key to success in this century. From AI to machine learning, the big advances are going to come from smarter use of data.
Is all this just Ofwat's job, or can we all play a part?
I think it is in all of our interests to do so.
So, collaboration means doing together what it would be impossible for each of us to do alone.
And to share experiences and outlooks successfully, we have to be speaking a common language.
That's my second C consistency.
Data is the key to success in this century. From AI to machine learning, the big advances are going to come from smarter use of data.
Because if you can't measure it, you don't know what the real issue is and you certainly can't change it.
We need to change it .and rapidly.
The data we have must be consistent and reliable to deliver the policy outcomes we want, from cutting leaks and driving down consumption, to reducing the environmental impact of the sector.
We don't have that consistency right now.
For example, in smart water metering there is no common standard to ensure a comparable frequency of reads or acceptable levels for devices returning data.
That means that water companies each ask for different things when procuring a solution, producing widely different data sets.
We can and should standardise the information we compile, make the right investment and technology choices so it is as comprehensive as possible, and ensure that data is at the heart of the transformation we want within the sector.
I see that work brilliantly in the broadcasting sector, where Arqiva also has a big presence.
For years, audience numbers have been centrally compiled and published independently by an organisation called Barb.
We all know where to go for that data. It is a universally trusted source. And it allows the whole industry to benchmark success.
I notice the absence of that in the water sector and I think now is the time to consider how
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Arqiva CEO, Shuja Khan, opens the Waterwise Conference 2024
