[GW4 WSA /CWS /IoW Joint Seminar] 07/05/2025 Prof Ian Barker (hybrid event)

Please note that this is a hybrid event - participants can either join online (via Microsoft Teams) or in-person in the Harrison Building, Room 170.

Abstract

Water is in the news – for all the wrong reasons.

For the tens of thousands of people in the UK water sector working hard day in, day out the headlines make for a tough read. As engineers and scientists, we understand the challenges and are working hard to tackle them. But despite those efforts it seems that what we do is not good enough for politicians, customers or the media. Why is everyone so grumpy about water?

This presentation will explore why the water companies’ technocratic and transactional approach to the delivery of water supply and sanitation might be missing the mark for those whom we serve. Research has shown that our customers view water differently to the companies that send them a bill. We will look at how we might be able to make water less ‘interesting’ but better understood and more appreciated. Possibly even, boring.

About Professor Ian Barker CEnv HonFSE FIWater

Ian Barker is an internationally recognised authority on water and environmental policy, governance, regulation and management. He has advised governments, regulators and water companies and was the expert adviser to the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee for its recent Inquiry into river water quality and sewage pollution. Ian is an expert adviser to the OECD and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Exeter’s Centre for Water Systems. He is also a Fellow and Director at the Institute of Water; Vice Chair, Director and Honorary Fellow of the Society for the Environment, and a Chartered Environmentalist. Ian is also an independent non-executive Director with South Staffordshire & Cambridge Water. In 2021 he was given the World Water Summit’s Global Water Excellence award.