With the next Water Equipment Show in the works, we are pleased to announce the official theme for its 2027 edition: AMP8, SR27 and Beyond: Engineering Solutions for Asset Renewal, Environmental Performance and Sector Resilience.
Now well into AMP8, the UK water industry has been tasked with delivering over £100 billion of investment across ageing networks and treatment assets, with Scotland's parallel SR27 period adding further complexity to engineering priorities and supply-chain capacity. Engineers are at the centre of this transformation; they must translate the requirements set out by both regulatory cycles into real improvements for the UK’s water and wastewater infrastructure while also tackling the recruitment and skills challenges needed to sustain long-term capability.
AMP8 and SR27's shared focus on maximising existing assets' useful lives has forced a major overhaul of how the UK water industry designs, builds, and maintains infrastructure, driving greater cross-network collaboration between water companies, manufacturers, and engineers. With companies now required to demonstrate how maintenance investment affects asset condition, risk, and service levels, data collection and evidence-based planning have become central to regulatory accountability—a demand set to intensify as both periods progress.
Regulatory compliance now requires companies to improve environmental performance and network resilience alike, driven by initiatives such as Sustainable Drainage Systems and Biodiversity Net Gain in pursuit of Net Zero by 2030. As a result, environmental targets are now inseparable from delivery success, garnering intense scrutiny from regulatory bodies nationwide.
Resilience now spans climate adaptation, supply security, flood management, and cyber/physical protection. While this broadens what water companies must plan and fund, the greatest strain falls on engineers and manufacturers, where workforce resilience is increasingly fragile. Building strong ties between water companies and suppliers to create an upskilled, resilient workforce has never mattered more - partnerships the Water Equipment Show can help cement into a unified strategy for the sector's future.
The Water Equipment Show 2027 provides the space and opportunity to examine how these technologies, workforce strategies, and engineering approaches are being applied to manage risk, boost asset performance, and meet AMP8 and SR27's environmental and operational goals.
While WES2026 was the biggest edition of the show yet, 2027 promises to be even bigger and better, featuring new areas for learning, networking, and collaboration. Expanding further into Telford International Centre’s exhibition space, there will be enhanced opportunities for water companies and everyone from across the supply chain to connect and share industry insights.
At WES2027, there will be three technical breakout rooms, each with its own focused topic supporting the aims of the Main Conference’s theme, where UK water industry professionals can gain targeted insights into further challenges faced by the sector. This year’s breakout rooms are:
Industry professionals will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts in these areas, facilitating knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer discussion, and networking to drive innovation and collaboration in search of solutions.
Presenting at the Water Equipment Show gives Pump Centre members an influential platform to share proven expertise, highlight project successes, and shape the future of water engineering. Put your solutions in front of leading decision-makers, engineers, and supply chain partners, and help the industry navigate upcoming challenges, share best practices, and inspire practical solutions.
In the Main Conference, we invite presentations on any topics associated with the WES2027 theme: AMP8, SR27 and Beyond: Engineering Solutions for Asset Renewal, Environmental Performance and Sector Resilience. Topics can address any subject related to the conference theme, for example: asset health management strategies, engineering solutions for improved operational and environmental performance, digital twins, and predictive maintenance. Presentations should be 25 minutes long, followed by 5 minutes of Q&A (30 minutes total).
Within the three technical breakout rooms, there will be an opportunity for a deeper dive into key challenges faced by the sector. For each technical breakout room, we are seeking 20-minute presentations followed by approximately 5 minutes of Q&A (25 minutes total duration).
Whether you have a breakthrough project to share or practical insights on navigating AMP8, SR27 and Beyond, we want to hear from you. Complete the online application form as soon as possible and no later than Friday 13 November 2026.
We look forward to receiving your completed application and seeing everyone at WES2027!
