The Society of Public Health Engineers (SoPHE), a society within CIBSE, welcomes the publication of the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report and strongly supports its call for transformational reform across the UK’s water sector.
This report arrives at a pivotal moment, as climate volatility, ageing infrastructure and systemic underinvestment intersect with growing public concern over water quality, pollution, and drought resilience. SoPHE commends the Commission’s transparent, evidence-led approach and particularly endorses the following themes:
SoPHE’s position – Key support points:
SoPHE has long advocated joined-up strategies that embed surface water, foul drainage, SuDS, greywater reuse, and water demand reduction within the built environment and support the Commission’s call for an industry-wide shift toward system-level resilience
SoPHE echoes the Commission’s recommendation for a clearer governance model with simplified regulatory architecture ensuring accountability for performance outcomes, aligned with incentives for innovation and sustainability.
The report rightly identifies the urgent need to upgrade the UK’s outdated water infrastructure. SoPHE members see firsthand the consequences of underfunded assets — from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to constrained network capacities. It is SoPHE’s belief that new developments must be future-proofed for both flood and drought resilience.
SoPHE champions the Commission’s stance on accelerated water efficiency standards across all building types, with minimum performance requirements on fittings and plumbing systems. Incentivising innovation in smart metering, leakage detection, behaviour change and public awareness are all critical to water security in the future.
The role of skilled public health engineers is central to helping deliver the Commission’s vision. We support investment in training, professional development, and clearer technical leadership pathways across both consultancy and delivery.
Strategic recommendations from SoPHE:
Closing statement
SoPHE, a CIBSE society, stands ready to contribute to a new era of water system governance in the UK. We urge policymakers and stakeholders to view this report, not as a critique, but as a clarion call to collectively reshape the way we manage and value water — not just as an asset, but as a shared human right and ecological imperative.
Distributed by Pressat