The aim of this conference is to explore and debate integrated water management and what it has to offer the water sector facing a wide range of new policy challenges. The conference will describe mechanisms for aiding the delivery of integrated solutions including, integrated catchment management, water cycle planning, partnership working, and the consideration of ecosystem services. The conference will aid the preparation of a report that will help identify priorities and mechanisms for more effective integration.

Programme

Speakers include:

Kevin Collins (Open University)
Understanding integration

Trevor Bishop (Environment Agency)
An EA perspective on integrated water management

Dr Kunle Akande (Halcrow)
Integrated Water Management from Cloud to Coast

Professor David Butler (University of Exeter)
Integration – philosophy or fantasy?

Robert Cunningham (RSPB)
Integrating flooding into water management

Robert Barker (Baca Architects)
Water and Communities - Integrating water into spatial planning and the LDF

Katherine Pygott (Halcrow)
Water Cycle Planning

Dr Mark Everard (Environment Agency)
Ecosystem Services

Bob Harris (Defra & Sheffield University)
The key elements of integrated catchment management

Kieran Conlan (Cascade Consulting)
Integrated catchment management and WFD

Rob Jarman (National Trust)
Integrated water management – A National Trust Perspective

Sponsors

Sponsorship: If you are interested in sponsoring this event please contact Lauren Goozee lauren@ciwem.org or Justin Taberham justin@ciwem.org or ring them on 0207 831 3110

Introduction

The water sector is often portrayed as fragmented and working in isolated silos and yet some of the major policy drivers require an integrated and holistic view of water in relation to issues such as population growth, planning and development, WFD, land use, valuation and climate change. A range of mechanisms including integrated catchment management, water cycle planning, partnership working and the use of ecosystem services will be covered by the conference now enable a much higher level of integrated working.

Timing – why now?

Six reasons:

1) We are at the start of the next water planning cycle for PR14 and WFD 2015 – getting more effective integration will take some time to permeate thinking. This theme links closely with the other work stream CIWEM are progressing on “Regulation for a Sustainable Water Industry”

2) The Coalition Government have promised a White Paper on water – this is an opportunity to get key ideas into that document and the conference will help develop ideas

3) All sorts of policy drivers are highlighting the need for better integration both within the water sector (e.g. WFD) and between water and other major interest areas e.g. energy, land-use, to improve delivery

4) Integrated solutions such as identified in the Flood and Water Management Act for surface water management or the SCAMP project are being recognised as more effective ways of delivering schemes

5) ‘More effective’ means in many cases using the finances from a variety of organisations (partners) to deliver schemes that work (multiple objectives, multiple benefits). The lack of public finance or the need for its better use might be a considerable driver [The Total Place programme – looking at creating efficiencies between national and local projects].

6) There are various catchment initiatives that are leading to an interest in more integrated working:

• Water Company post PR09 ‘catchment schemes’ – over 100 (from 2010)
• The Defra Demonstration test catchment project
• Virtual observatories – academic research initiatives

Objectives of the conference

• To explore the current views in the UK on integrated water management
• To understand the drivers for a more integrated approach to water management
• To look at the benefits and costs, barriers and other detailed questions relating to integrated water management and priorities
• To look at ways of working in a more integrated manner that would offer clear benefits and address particular priorities
• To enable delegates to think through the elements of integration and how it can apply to their work
• To support the preparation of a CIWEM report on Integrated Water Management