In his opening address at the conference, Mr Millican, said: "Scotland is a country of water - with 30,000 lochs and more than 18,000 kilometres of coastline. Water shapes the geography of the nation – our 790 islands, our beaches, our dramatic scenery. It is a part of everyday life and a large part of our culture.
"I defy you to find a Scot - who, when asked to imagine, draw or photograph Scotland's landscape - doesn't include water. It is understood by everyone - as one of our finest national assets - and a source of great pride.
"But Scotland is also a country of great diversity - from our large urban centres of population and industry - to many sparsely populated areas - of the highlands and islands.
"The range of communities we serve is enormously varied - and consequently - so are the ways - we deliver our essential services. For example, our largest water treatment works - serves around half a million people. Our smallest is literally the size of a small hut – serving just a handful."
After speaking about the formation of Scottish Water, Mr Millican addressed the "significant challenges" that Scotland will face in the years and decades to come.
He continued: "One of the most significant of these - is climate change - which will impact increasingly on our services - in many ways - including water quality, water resources and flooding.
For example, Scotland has a large share of Europe's peat. And as rain chemistry and patterns change - we are seeing higher levels of organic matter - in our raw water sources.
"The challenge of treating these raw waters – where levels of organics can increase dramatically within hours - is significant for us - and one that requires a multi-faceted and innovative approach.
-- Advertisement --
Another key challenge we face - is around our assets - both the nature of them and their condition. History and geography - means we have a high number of small, discreet water supply systems.
Our assets are always ageing - and need maintained and replaced – but the rate of this need is rising. In many areas, our network infrastructure is well over 100 years old.
"This means there is much for us to do - maintaining and replacing our ageing assets – and building greater resilience into our systems.
"Another challenge we have - that will be common to many people here – is that of population change and movement.
That means extra demand on assets - that don't always have the capacity or perhaps the condition to cope. This will require significant investment in coming years - if we are to keep pace with this.
"And we have the challenge - of customers' changing expectations. Ever-rising expectations - as technology, such as social media - empower people to demand better service. And ever rising expectations - as customers' experience - ever better service - from other consumer-facing organisations.
"Customers now expect - high quality drinking water and flawless service -without exception. Younger customers - in particular - have never known anything go wrong with their water supply - and assume that will continue into the future.
"Customers are also demanding more beyond our core service. They expect us to show leadership - in environmental sustainability - and to provide social protections around vulnerability and affordability. But for each challenge we also have opportunities.
"As I mentioned earlier - independent surveys show - that Scotland's water sector is the most trusted by consumers. And that relationship with our customers - has real value for us - not least when asking them - to support actions to tackle shared problems.
One of our greatest opportunities - is founded in the good fortune of our geography and topography. Our water systems are largely gravity fed - which means we have the lowest carbon intensity in the UK water sector.
"We now produce - or host - twice the amount of renewable energy - than the energy we consume - in our operations. And the landmass under our control - provides opportunities to further contribute toward national goals for the decarbonisation of energy.
Scotland has a heritage for innovation - and we are continually innovating in the technology we use - and in the transformation of our systems and processes.
"From using flow cytometry technology - to enable real-time information about bacteria in water - to adopting new technologies such as carbon fibre to protect our pipes - or Nereda for treating our wastewater.
"We also encourage others to innovate here in Scotland – and have established two innovation centres - one for water and one for waste water - where new technologies can be tested and developed.
"And that of course is the purpose of this conference. To share and explore new ideas - that will play a part in the future of water services.
"If this event sparks just one idea in everyone who is here - and everyone took that back and implemented it - imagine the benefits that would bring?
"And I would urge that we all have that aim for this conference. To take away something that will help in the vitally important job we all do - serving our customers and caring for our natural environment.
"We are immensely proud to be holding the Leading Edge Technology 2019 here in Scotland - and I sincerely hope you enjoy it."
