Can the UK water sector rebuild public trust while delivering the biggest regulatory overhaul in a generation? 

The water industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. Following Sir Jon Cunliffe's Independent Water Commission review, the Government's January 2026 White Paper, A New Vision for Water, set out plans to abolish Ofwat and establish a single integrated regulator, backed by over £104 billion in secured private investment and a phased reform programme running to 2030. Meanwhile, the summer of 2026 saw the most widespread drought restrictions since 2022, with seven Temporary Use Bans in force across England, and Thames Water, the sector's largest supplier, remains locked in high-stakes negotiations to avoid special administration. 

In conjunction, the sector faces mounting pressure, from rebuilding investor confidence while protecting customers from rising bills, to delivering record infrastructure investment at pace, and restoring public trust after years of pollution scrutiny, all while a Transition Plan and Water Reform Bill are still to be finalised, leaving companies and regulators navigating significant uncertainty. 

The Institute of Government & Public Policy is proud to present Water Reform Live 2027 which has been designed to bring together regulators, water companies, investors, policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the shifting sector landscape. Water Reform Live 2027: Delivering the New Vision for Water, will explore what the new regulatory settlement means in practice, how the sector can secure sustainable investment, and what the future of the water sector looks like.