Water Resource Management Expo (WRM), one of the UK’s leading events for water management and wastewater professionals, will return once again to the NEC, Birmingham, on 11-12 September 2024, as part of the Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS).
This year, a key focus will be placed on serving sector professionals, including those focused on water scarcity, emergency response, sustainable water management, sewage networks, and innovative technologies driving efficient water use. Following over 1,700 professionals gathering at WRM in 2023, this year’s event promises to be another essential platform for industry stakeholders to explore cutting-edge technologies, investment opportunities, and strategic insights.
Recent statistics revealed in the National Environmental Services Survey Report 2024 highlight the disparity between concern and action within the water sector. Of the 1,498 environmental professionals polled, a unanimous 100% have concerns about pollution in rivers, with over half (52%) marking their extreme concern. Furthermore, 19 out of 20 respondents think drought will impact water resource management. Yet, less than 10% feel government strategies are not enough to achieve net zero and environmental sustainability across all sectors. The organiser of WRM expects the event to act as the key platform to tackle these concerns and unite the industry to further advancements towards change.
The show’s ever-popular conference programme will offer visitors a comprehensive look at some of the most pressing trends impacting the water industry today. Across both days, some of the UK’s top stakeholders, contractors, and leading developers will host panel sessions and presentations at the dedicated Water Keynote and Water Technical stages.
Talking on ‘Exploring Solutions to Pollution and Storm Overflow Challenges’ from the root causes of water pollution issues to innovative solutions including water treatment and green infrastructure will be a trio of key sector voices: Darren Eckford, Director of Learning and Organisation Development at CIWEM; Nicole McNab, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Southern Water; and Sam Sweeney, Improving Water Company Regulation Manager at the Environment Agency. At 10:45 on the Water Keynote Stage (11 September), these experts will share their own learning and personal experiences to help form best practices and community solutions across the industry.
Owen Lauder, Business Development Manager and Grace Miller, Account Manager at Previsco will host a session entitled, ‘A Data Driven Approach to Better Understanding Drainage Asset Performance’ at 12:00 on the Water Technical Stage (11 September). They will demonstrate how data can improve drainage network management. They’ll showcase digital tools like risk mapping and IoT sensors to identify flood risks and optimise drainage performance. By using data proactively, organisations can improve maintenance, emergency response, and water management, leading to social, economic, and environmental benefits.
Casting a wider perspective on the water industry will be Terry Smithson, Head of Nature Based Solutions at BioScapes Limited. He will lead the ‘Looking Beyond Carbon Myopia: Why A Focus on Biodiversity Can Deliver So Much More’ at 14:40 at the Water Technical Stage (11 September). Here, Smithson will highlight why a richness in biodiversity is essential for maintaining our environment and natural resources from healthy soils to clean water.
From 13:15 at the Keynote Stage (12 September), Ian Mugford, Technical Director at TerrAffix Soil Solutions Ltd and Ken Hunnisett, Head of Public Sector at Triple Point Investment Management LLP will hold respective presentations on ‘Carbonisation: Towards A Low Carbon Biosolid Treatment Strategy. A Gamechanger on The Journey to Net Zero and Beyond’ and ‘What Role Can Innovation Play in A Sustainable and Decarbonised Water Future?’ Following this, Mugford and Hunnisett will hold a joint Q&A session on cutting-edge solutions to revolutionise water management providing attendees with the chance to ask burning questions surrounding building water resilience.
As space becomes increasingly limited in built environments and flooding risks rise due to decreasing permeable ground, contractors and developers face significant challenges. To address these issues, Howard Grey, Business Relationship Specialist at GreenBlue Urban, will host a session on ‘Sustainable SuDS with Minimal Land Use’ at 12:30 on the Water Technical Stage (12 September). Grey will delve into MicroSuDS design and modelling for compact, efficient systems, explore streamlined construction methods for urban settings, and discuss habitat creation through native plant selection to enhance local biodiversity.
On the show floor, over 50 exhibitors will unite at WRM to display their latest products and services catered for the growing demand for new technologies to tackle problems faced in the water industry.
Cleaning and maintenance specialist, Spinaclean, will unveil its latest innovation, FloodVac. Designed to revolutionise flood response, the fully mobile system can extract water up to 5m deep and efficiently remove surface water and debris. The Government-backed levy and pool system, Flood Re, will exhibit to discuss its role in making flood insurance more accessible for UK homeowners.
Global drainage systems leader, Hauraton, will showcase its range of products designed to manage rainwater effectively and protect the environment. Meanwhile, water industry expert, the NIVUS Group, will be exhibiting its latest measurement and data management solutions. With a focus on water quality and level and flow measurement, the company will showcase its comprehensive approach to water management. WAPRO will exhibit its range of WaStop and WaGate valves that extreme weather events become increasingly common, its products act as a flooding prevention solution. Common applications of its range are to isolate run-off from roads in the case of accidents or close off incoming flow in pumping stations during maintenance.
WRM Expo is co-located at ESS Expo, one of the UK’s leading events for the environmental services industry. The Expo brings together a portfolio of key industry events for the second year running; the Water Resource Management Expo, the Resource & Waste Management Expo, the Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation Expo, the Contamination & Land Remediation Expo, along with the brand-new Air Pollution Control Expo.
Partnered with the Environment Agency, ESS Expo will attract over 12,000 visitors to the 2024 edition and will centre around three core themes pertinent to the wider industry: Circular Economy, Becoming Net-Zero, and Increasing Biodiversity. Over 600 exhibitors, including leading names Biffa, Engie, Adler and Allen, OfWat, Mercedes, and more, will showcase their latest products, technologies, and services in net-zero, decarbonisation, resource management, circular economy, water scarcity and management, biodiversity conservation, environmental emergency response and emissions control. ESS’s full speaker line-up includes over 350 environment and sustainability experts from the likes of Defra the Environment Agency, Bankers for Net-Zero, BT, Wimbledon Championships, and more.
To register to attend ESS Expo 2024 from 11-12 September at the NEC, Birmingham, visit www.ess-expo.co.uk
