England’s storm overflow challenge is rooted in Victorian engineering. From Bazalgette’s legacy to PR24, the sector faces mounting pressure to meet modern environmental targets while maintaining resilience. Thames Water is investing heavily to reduce storm overflow spills, improve river health, and rebuild public trust — but are we asking the right questions about scale, ambition, and trade-offs? This paper explores the £10 billion storm overflow investment programme and its implications for affordability, carbon, and long-term sustainability. It examines how nature-based solutions, phosphorus reduction, and innovative technologies can complement traditional engineering, delivering benefits beyond compliance. Transparency and engagement are critical: how do we ensure customers and stakeholders understand the choices and challenges involved? By reframing the conversation from pipes to people and from compliance to catchment outcomes, this session will share insights from Thames Water’s strategy and invite debate on how the sector can balance environmental ambition with practical delivery.